Jd. 


WISDOM 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


GIFT  OF 
FREDERIC  THOMAS  BLANCHARD 


PRACTICAL  WISDOM 
LETTERS  TO  TOUNG  MEN 


Practical  Wisdom 


Letters  to  Young  Men 


by 

SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH 

ER^ANCIS  OSBOR.N 

LOR.D  BUR.LEIGH 

SIR  MATTHEW  HALE 

WILLIAM.  EARL  OF  BEDFORD 


NEW    YD  R.K 

A.  WESSELS  COMPANY 

MCMII 


Copyright,  1902 

by 

A.  WESSELS 

COMPANY 


BIT 
)b3l 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Sir  Walter   Raleigh's  Instructions  to 
His  Son    (circa    1632)     .  .  .        9 

Francis     Osborn's     Advice    to    a    Son 
(1656) 43 

Lord    Burleigh's  Advices    to   His    Son 
(1617) 117 

Sir    Matthew    Hale's    Advice    to    His 
Grand-Children   (circa   1680)  .    131 

William,  Earl  of  Bedford's  Advice  to 
His  Sons   (circa   1642)  .  .  •    171 


lOOMSS 


SIR  WALTER    RALEIGH'S 
INSTRUCTIONS  TO  HIS  SON 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 


SIR  WALTER   RALEIGH'S 
INSTRUCTIONS  TO  HIS  SON 

^* 

VIRTUOUS  Persons  to  be  made 
CHOICE  OF  FOR  Friends. — There 
is  nothing  more  becoming  any  wise  man, 
than  to  make  choice  of  friends,  for  by 
them  thou  shalt  be  judged  what  thou  art : 
let  them  therefore  be  wise  and  virtuous, 
and  none  of  those  that  follow  thee  for  gain  ; 
but  make  election  rather  of  thy  betters, 
than  thy  inferiors,  shunning  always  such 
as  are  poor  and  needy  :  for  if  thou  givest 
twenty  gifts,  and  refuse  to  do  the  like  but 
once,  all  that  thou  hast  done  will  be  lost, 
and  such  men  will  become  thy  mortal 
enemies.  Take  also  special  care,  that 
thou  never  trust  any  friend  or  servant, 
with  any  matter  that   may  endanger  thine 

[7]  " 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

estate ;  for  so  shalt  thou  make  thyself  a 
bond-slave  to  him  that  thou  trustest,  and 
leave  thyself  always  to  his  mercy  :  and  be 
sure  of  this,  thou  shalt  never  find  a  friend 
in  thy  young  years,  whose  conditions  and 
qualities  will  please  thee  after  thou  comest 
to  more  discretion  and  judgment,  and  then 
all  thou  givest  is  lost,  and  all  wherein  thou 
shalt  trust  such  a  one,  will  be  discovered. 
Such  therefore  as  are  thy  inferiors,  will 
follow  thee  but  to  eat  thee  out,  and  when 
thou  leavest  to  feed  them,  they  will  hate 
thee ;  and  such  kind  of  men,  if  thou  pre- 
serve thy  estate,  will  always  be  had.  And 
if  thy  friends  be  of  better  quality  than  thy- 
self, thou  mayest  be  sure  of  two  things  : 
the  first,  that  they  will  be  more  careful  to 
keep  thy  counsel,  because  they  have  more 
to  lose  than  thou  hast :  the  second,  they 
will  esteem  thee  for  thyself,  and  not  for 
that  which  thou  dost  possess.      But  if  thou 

[lo] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

be  subject  to  any  great  vanity  or  ill  (from 
which  I  hope  God  will  bless  thee),  then 
therein  trust  no  man ;  for  every  man's 
folly  ought  to  be  his  greatest  secret.  And 
although  I  persuade  thee  to  associate  thy- 
self with  thy  betters,  or  at  least  with  thy 
peers,  yet  remember  always  that  thou  ven- 
ture not  thy  estate  with  any  of  those  great 
ones  that  shall  attempt  unlawful  things ; 
for  such  men  labour  for  themselves,  and 
not  for  thee ;  thou  shalt  be  sure  to  part 
with  them  in  the  danger,  but  not  in  the 
honour ;  and  to  venture  a  sure  estate  in 
present,  in  hope  of  a  better  in  future,  is 
mere  madness  :  and  great  men  forget  such 
as  have  done  them  service,  when  they  have 
obtained  what  they  would,  and  will  rather 
hate  thee  for  saying  thou  hast  been  a 
means  for  their  advancement,  than  ac- 
knowledge it. 

I  could  give  thee  a  thousand  examples, 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

and  I  myself  know  it,  and  have  tasted  it 
in  all  the  course  of  my  life ;  when  thou 
shalt  read  and  observe  the  stories  of  all 
nations,  thou  shalt  find  innumerable  ex- 
amples of  the  like.  Let  thy  love  therefore 
be  to  the  best,  so  long  as  they  do  well  j  but 
take  heed  that  thou  love  God,  thy  Country, 
thy  Prince,  and  thine  own  Estate,  before 
all  others  :  for  the  fancies  of  men  change, 
and  he  that  loves  to-day,  hateth  to-morrow  ; 
but  let  reason  be  thy  school-mistress,  which 
shall  ever  guide  thee  aright. 

Great  Care  to  be  had  in  the 
CHOOSING  OF  a  Wife. — The  next  and 
greatest  care  ought  to  be  in  the  choice  of 
a  wife,  and  the  only  danger  therein,  is 
beauty,  by  which  all  men  in  all  ages,  wise 
and  foolish,  have  been  betrayed.  And 
though  I  know  it  vain  to  use  reasons  or 
arguments  to  dissuade  thee  from  being 
captivated  therewith,  there  being  few  or 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

none  that  ever  resisted  that  witchery,  yet 
I  cannot  omit  to  warn  thee,  as  of  other 
things,  which  may  be  thy  ruin  and  de- 
struction. For  the  present  time,  it  is 
true,  that  every  man  prefers  his  fantasy  in 
that  appetite,  before  all  other  worldly 
desires,  leaving  the  care  of  honour,  credit, 
and  safety,  in  respect  thereof.  But  re- 
member, that  though  these  affections  do 
not  last,  yet  the  bond  of  marriage  dureth 
to  the  end  of  thy  life.  Remember,  sec- 
ondly, that  if  thou  marry  for  beauty,  thou 
bindest  thyself  all  thy  life  forthat  which  per- 
chance will  neither  last  nor  please  thee  one 
year ;  and  when  thou  hast  it,  it  will  be  to 
thee  of  no  price  at  all ;  for  the  desire  dieth 
when  it  is  attained,  and  the  affection 
perisheth  when  it  is  satisfied.  Remem- 
ber, when  thou  wert  a  sucking  child  that 
then  thou  didst  love  thy  nurse,  and  that 
thou  wert  fond  of  her ;   after  a  while  thou 

[^3] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

didst  love  thy  dry-nurse,  and  didst  forget 
the  other;  after  that  thou  didst  also  despise 
her :  so  will  it  be  with  thee  in  thy  liking 
in  elder  years  ;  and  therefore,  though  thou 
canst  not  forbear  to  love,  yet  forbear  to 
link ;  and  after  a  while  thou  shalt  find  an 
alteration  in  thyself,  and  see  another  far 
more  pleasing  than  the  first,  second,  or 
third  love  ;  yet  I  wish  thee  above  all  the 
rest,  have  a  care  thou  dost  not  marry  an 
uncomely  woman  for  any  respect ;  for 
comeliness  in  children  is  riches,  if  nothing 
else  be  left  them.  And  if  thou  have  care 
for  thy  races  of  horses,  and  other  beasts, 
value  the  shape  and  comeliness  of  thy 
children,  before  alliances  or  riches.  Have 
care  therefore  of  both  together,  for  if  thou 
have  a  fair  wife,  and  a  poor  one,  if  thine 
own  estate  be  not  great,  assure  thyself  that 
love  abideth  not  with  want ;  for  she  is  the 
companion  of  plenty  and  honour.      This 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

Bathsheba  taught  her  son  Solomon  ;  Fav- 
our is  deceitful,  and  beauty  is  vanity  :  she 
saith  further.  That  a  wise  woman  overseeth 
the  ways  of  her  household,  and  eateth  not 
the  bread  of  idleness. 

Have  therefore  ever  more  care  that  thou 
be  beloved  of  thy  wife,  rather  than  thyself 
besotted  on  her  ;  and  thou  shalt  judge  of 
her  love  by  these  two  observations  :  first, 
if  thou  perceive  she  have  a  care  of  thy 
estate,  and  exercise  herself  therein ;  the 
other,  if  she  study  to  please  thee,  and  be 
sweet  unto  thee  in  conversation,  without 
thy  instruction  ;  for  love  needs  no  teaching 
nor  precept.  On  the  other  side,  be  not 
sour  or  stern  to  thy  wife,  for  cruelty 
engendereth  no  other  thing  than  hatred  : 
let  her  have  equal  part  of  thy  estate  whilst 
thou  liveth,  if  thou  find  her  sparing  and 
honest ;  but  what  thou  givest  after  thy 
death,  remember  that  thou  givest  it  to  a 


P  R  A  C  T  I  C  AL    WISDOM 

stranger,  and  most  times  to  an  enemy ;  for 
he  that  shall  marry  thy  wife,  will  despise 
thee,  thy  memory,  and  thine,  and  shall 
possess  the  quiet  of  thy  labours,  the  fruit 
which  thou  hast  planted,  enjoy  thy  love, 
and  spend  with  joy  and  ease  what  thou 
hast  spared,  and  gotten  with  care  and  tra- 
vail. Yet  always  remember,  that  thou 
leave  not  thy  wife  to  be  a  shame  unto 
thee  after  thou  art  dead,  but  that  she  may 
live  according  to  thy  estate ;  especially  if 
thou  hast  few  children,  and  them  provided 
for.  But  howsoever  it  be,  or  whatsoever 
thou  find,  leave  thy  wife  no  more  than  of 
necessity  thou  must,  but  only  during  her 
widowhood ;  but  leave  thy  estate  to  thy 
house  and  children,  in  which  thou  livest 
upon  earth  whilst  it  lasteth.  To  con- 
clude. Wives  were  ordained  to  continue 
the  generation  of  men,  not  to  transfer 
them,  and  diminish  them,  either  in   con- 

[i6] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

tinuance  or  ability ;  and  therefore  thy 
house  and  estate,  which  liveth  in  thy  son, 
and  not  in  thy  wife,  is  to  be  preferred. 
Thy  best  time  for  marriage  will  be  towards 
thirty,  for  as  the  younger  times  are  unfit, 
either  to  choose  or  to  govern  a  wife  and 
family,  so  if  thou  stay  long  thou  shalt 
hardly  see  the  education  of  thy  children, 
who  being  left  to  strangers,  are  in  effect 
lost :  and  better  were  it  to  be  unborn,  than 
ill-bred ;  for  thereby  thy  posterity  shall 
either  perish,  or  remain  a  shame  to  thy 
name  and  family.  Bestow  therefore  thy 
youth  so,  that  thou  mayest  have  comfort  to 
remember  it,  when  it  hath  forsaken  thee, 
and  not  sigh  and  grieve  at  the  account 
thereof.  Whilst  thou  are  young  thou  wilt 
think  it  will  never  have  an  end  ;  but  be- 
hold, the  longest  day  hath  his  evening, 
and  that  thou  shalt  enjoy  it  but  once — 
that  it  never  turns  again  ;   use  it  therefore 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

as  the  spring-time  which  soon  departeth, 
and  wherein  thou  oughtest  to  plant,  and 
sow  all  provisions  for  a  long  and  happy 
life. 

The  Wisest  Men  have  been  abused 
BY  Flatterers. — Take  care  thou  be  not 
made  a  fool  by  flatterers,  for  even  the 
wisest  men  are  abused  by  these.  Know 
therefore,  that  flatterers  are  the  worst  kind 
of  traitors ;  for  they  will  strengthen  thy 
imperfections,  encourage  thee  in  all  evils, 
correct  thee  in  nothing,  but  so  shadow  and 
paint  all  thy  vices  and  follies,  as  thou  shalt 
never,  by  their  will,  discern  evil  from  good, 
or  vice  from  virtue.  And  because  all  men 
are  apt  to  flatter  themselves,  to  entertain 
the  additions  of  other  men's  praises,  is 
most  perilous.  Do  not  therefore  praise 
thyself,  except  thou  wilt  be  counted  a  vain- 
glorious fool,  neither  take  delight  in  the 
praise  of  other  men,  except  thou  deserve 

[i8] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

it,  and  receive  it  from  such  as  are  worthy 
and  honest,  and  will  withal  warn  thee  of 
thy  faults  ;  for  flatterers  have  never  any 
virtue,  they  are  ever  base,  creeping,  cow- 
ardly persons.  A  flatterer  is  said  to  be  a 
beast  that  biteth  smiling;  it  is  said  by 
Isaiah  in  this  manner :  *  My  people,  they 
that  praise  thee,  seduce  thee,  and  disorder 
the  paths  of  thy  feet : '  and  David  desired 
God  to  cut  out  the  tongue  of  a  flatterer. 
But  it  is  hard  to  know  them  from  friends, 
they  are  so  obsequious  and  full  of  protes- 
tations ;  for  as  a  wolf  resembles  a  dog,  so 
doth  a  flatterer  a  friend.  A  flatterer  is 
compared  to  an  ape,  who  because  she 
cannot  defend  the  house  like  a  dog,  labour 
as  an  ox,  or  bear  burdens  as  a  horse, 
doth  therefore  yet  play  tricks  and  provoke 
laughter.  Thou  mayest  be  sure  that  he 
that  will  in  private  tell  thee  thy  faults,  is 
thy  friend,  for  he  adventures  thy  dislike, 

[19] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

and  doth  hazard  thy  hatred  ;  for  there  are 
few  men  that  can  endure  it,  every  man 
for  the  most  part  delighting  in  self-praise, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  universal  follies 
that  bewitcheth  mankind. 

Private  Quarrels  to  be  Avoided. — 
Be  careful  to  avoid  public  disputations  at 
feasts  or  at  tables  among  choleric  or 
quarrelsome  persons ;  and  eschew  ever- 
more to  be  acquainted  or  familiar  with 
ruffians ;  for  thou  shalt  be  in  as  much 
danger  in  contending  with  a  brawler  in  a 
private  quarrel,  as  in  a  battle,  wherein 
thou  mayest  get  honour  to  thyself,  and 
safety  to  thy  prince  and  country ;  but  if 
thou  be  once  engaged,  carry  thyself  bravely, 
that  they  may  fear  thee  after.  To  shun 
therefore  private  fight,  be  well  advised  in 
thy  words  and  behaviour,  for  honour  and 
shame  is  in  the  talk,  and  the  tongue  of  a 
man  causeth  him  to  fall. 

[20] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

Jest  not  openly  at  those  that  are  simple, 
but  remember  how  much  thou  art  bound 
to  God,  who  hath  made  thee  wiser.  De- 
fame not  any  woman  publicly,  though 
thou  know  her  to  be  evil ;  for  those  that 
are  faulty,  cannot  endure  to  be  taxed,  but 
will  seek  to  be  avenged  of  thee  ;  and  those 
that  are  not  guilty,  cannot  endure  unjust 
reproach.  And  as  there  is  nothing  more 
shameful  and  dishonest,  than  to  do  wrong, 
so  truth  itself  cutteth  his  throat  that  carri- 
eth  her  publicly  in  every  place.  Remember 
the  divine  saying,  '  he  that  keepeth  his 
mouth,  keepeth  his  life.'  Do  therefore  right 
to  all  men  where  it  may  profit  them,  and 
thou  shalt  thereby  get  much  love  ;  and  for- 
bear to  speak  evil  things  of  men,  though  it 
be  true  (if  thou  be  not  constrained)  and 
thereby  thou  shalt  avoid  malice  and  revenge. 

Do  not  accuse  any  man  of  any  crime, 
if  it  be  not  to  save  thyself,  thy  prince,  or 

[21] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

country ;  for  there  is  nothing  more  dis- 
honourable, next  to  treason  itself,  than  to 
be  an  accuser.  Notwithstanding  I  would 
not  have  thee  for  any  respect  lose  thy 
reputation,  or  endure  public  disgrace  :  for 
better  it  were  not  to  live,  than  to  live  a 
coward,  if  the  offence  proceed  not  from 
thyself:  if  it  do,  it  shall  be  better  to 
compound  it  upon  good  terms,  than  to 
hazard  thyself;  for  if  thou  overcome, 
thou  art  under  the  cruelty  of  the  law,  if 
thou  art  overcome,  thou  art  dead  or  dis- 
honoured. If  thou  therefore  contend,  or 
discourse  in  argument,  let  it  be  with  wise 
and  sober  men,  of  whom  thou  must  learn 
by  reasoning,  and  not  with  ignorant  per- 
sons ;  for  thou  shalt  thereby  instruct 
those  that  will  not  thank  thee,  and  will 
utter  what  they  have  learned  from  thee 
for  their  own.  But  if  thou  know  more 
than  other  men,  utter  it  when  it  may  do 

[22] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

thee    honour,   and    not    in    assemblies  of 
ignorant  and  common  persons. 

Speaking  much,  also,  is  a  sign  of  vanity  ; 
for  he  that  is  lavish  in  words,  is  a  niggard 
in    deeds  ;    and  as  Solomon    saith,  '  The 
mouth  of  a  wise  man  is  in  his  heart,  the 
heart   of  a   fool  is  in  his  mouth,  because 
what   he   knoweth   or   thinketh,  he  utter- 
eth.'     And  by  thy  words  and  discourses, 
men    will    judge    thee.      For    as  Socrates 
saith,  '  Such    as   thy  words   are,  such  will 
thy  affections  be  esteemed ;  and  such  will 
thy  deeds  as  thy  affections,  and   such  thy 
hfe  as  thy  deeds.'      Therefore   be   advised 
what    thou    dost   discourse  of,  what  thou 
maintainest;    whether    touching    religion, 
state,  or  vanity ;   for    if   thou   err  in    the 
first,  thou  shah  be  accounted   profane  ;   if 
in  the  second,  dangerous  ;   if  in  the  third, 
indiscreet    and    foolish.      He  that  cannot 
refrain  from  much   speaking,  is  like  a  city 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

without  walls,  and  less  pains  in  the  world 
a  man  cannot  take,  than  to  hold  his 
tongue ;  therefore  if  thou  observest  this 
rule  in  all  assemblies,  thou  shalt  seldom 
err — restrain  thy  choler,  hearken  much 
and  speak  little ;  for  the  tongue  is  the  in- 
strument of  the  greatest  good  and  greatest 
evil  that  is  done  in  the  world. 

According  to  Solomon,  life  and  death 
are  in  the  power  of  the  tongue  :  and  as 
Euripides  truly  affirmeth,'  Every  unbridled 
tongue,  in  the  end,  shall  find  itself  unfor- 
tunate ; '  for  in  all  that  ever  I  observed  in 
the  course  of  worldly  things,  I  ever  found 
that  men's  fortunes  are  oftener  made  by 
their  tongues  than  by  their  virtues,  and 
more  men's  fortunes  overthrown  thereby 
also,  than  by  their  vices.  And  to  con- 
clude, all  quarrels,  mischief,  hatred,  and 
destruction,  arise  from  unadvised  speech, 
and  in  much  speech  there  are  many  errors, 

[24] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

out  of  which  thy  enemies  shall  ever  take 
the  most  dangerous  advantage.  And  as 
thou  shalt  be  happy,  if  thou  thyself  ob- 
serve these  things,  so  shalt  it  be  most 
profitable  for  thee  to  avoid  their  com- 
panies that  err  in  that  kind;  and  not  to 
hearken  to  tale-bearers,  to  inquisitive  per- 
sons, and  such  as  busy  themselves  with 
other  men's  estates  ;  that  creep  into  houses 
as  spies,  to  learn  news  which  concerns 
them  not ;  for  assure  thyself  such  persons 
are  most  base  and  unworthy,  and  I  never 
knew  any  of  them  prosper,  or  respected 
amongst  worthy  or  wise  men. 

Take  heed  also  that  thou  be  not  found 
a  liar  ;  for  a  lying  spirit  is  hateful  both  to 
God  and  man.  A  liar  is  commonly  a 
coward,  for  he  dares  not  avow  truth.  A 
liar  is  trusted  of  no  man,  he  can  have  no 
credit,  either  in  public  or  private  ;  and  if 
there  were   no   more  arguments  than  this, 

[25] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

know  that  our  Lord,  in  St.  John,  saith, 
'  that  it  is  a  vice  proper  to  Satan,'  lying 
being  opposite  to  the  nature  of  God,  which 
consisteth  in  truth  ;  and  the  gain  of  lying 
is  nothing  else,  but  not  to  be  trusted  of 
any,  nor  to  be  believed  when  we  say  the 
truth.  It  is  said  in  the  Proverbs,  '  that 
God  hateth  false  lips  ;  and  he  that  speaketh 
lies  shall  perish.'  Thus  thou  mayst  see 
and  find  in  all  the  books  of  God,  how 
odious  and  contrary  to  God  a  liar  is ;  and 
for  the  world,  believe  it,  that  it  never  did 
any  man  good,  except  in  the  extremity  of 
saving  life ;  for  a  liar  is  of  a  base,  un- 
worthy, and  cowardly  spirit. 

Three  Rules  to  be  observed  for  the 
Preservation  of  a  Man's  Estate. — 
Amongst  all  other  things  of  the  world, 
take  care  of  thy  estate,  which  thou  shalt 
ever  preserve,  if  thou  observe  three  things  ; 
first,  that    thou   know    what    thou    hast ; 

[26] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

what  every  thing  is  worth  that  thou  hast ; 
and  to  see  that  thou  art  not  wasted  by  thy 
servants  and  officers.  The  second  is,  that 
thou  never  spend  any  thing  before  thou 
have  it ;  for  borrowing  is  the  canker  and 
death  of  every  man's  estate.  The  third 
is,  that  thou  suffer  not  thyself  to  be 
wounded  for  other  men's  faults,  and 
scourged  for  other  men's  offences  ;  which 
is,  the  surety  for  another ;  for  thereby 
millions  of  men  have  been  beggared  and 
destroyed,  paying  the  reckoning  of  other 
men's  riot,  and  the  charge  of  other  men's 
folly  and  prodigality  ;  if  thou  smart,  smart 
for  thine  own  sins,  and  above  all  things, 
be  not  made  an  ass  to  carry  the  burdens  of 
other  men.  If  any  friend  desire  thee  to 
be  his  surety,  give  him  a  part  of  what  thou 
hast  to  spare  ;  if  he  press  thee  farther  he 
is  not  thy  friend  at  all,  for  friendship 
rather  chooseth  harm   to  itself,  than  offer- 

[27] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

eth  it.  If  thou  be  bound  for  a  stranger, 
thou  art  a  fool ;  if  for  a  merchant  thou 
puttest  thy  estate  to  learn  to  swim  ;  if  for 
a  church-man,  he  hath  no  inheritance ;  if 
for  a  lawyer,  he  will  find  an  evasion  by  a 
syllable  or  word,  to  abuse  thee;  if  for  a 
poor  man  thou  must  pay  it  thyself;  if  for 
a  rich  man  he  needs  not  :  therefore  from 
suretyship,  as  from  a  manslayer  or  en- 
chanter, bless  thyself;  for  the  best  profit 
and  return  will  be  this — that  if  thou  force 
him  for  whom  thou  art  bound,  to  pay  it 
himself,  he  will  become  thy  enemy ;  if 
thou  use  to  pay  it  thyself,  thou  wilt  be- 
come a  beggar.  And  believe  thy  father 
in  this,  and  print  it  in  thy  thought — that 
what  virtue  soever  thou  hast,  be  it  never 
so  manifold,  if  thou  be  poor  withal,  thou 
and  thy  qualities  shall  be  despised  :  besides, 
poverty  is  oftentimes  sent  as  a  curse  of 
God,  it  is  a  shame  amongst  men,  an   im- 

[28] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

prisonment  of  the  mind,  a  vexation  of 
every  worthy  spirit ;  thou  shalt  neither 
help  thyself  nor  others  ;  thou  shalt  drown 
thee  in  all  thy  virtues,  having  no  means  to 
show  them  ;  thou  shalt  be  a  burden  and 
an  eye-sore  to  thy  friends ;  every  man 
will  fear  thy  company,  thou  shalt  be  driven 
basely  to  beg,  and  depend  on  others,  to 
flatter  unworthy  men,  to  make  dishonest 
shifts:  and,  to  conclude,  poverty  provokes 
a  man  to  do  infamous  and  detested  deeds. 
Let  not  vanity,  therefore,  or  persuasion 
draw  thee  to  that  worst  of  worldly 
miseries. 

If  thou  be  rich,  it  will  give  thee  pleasure 
in  health,  comfort  in  sickness,  keep  thy 
mind  and  body  free,  save  thee  from  many 
perils,  relieve  thee  in  thy  elder  years,  re- 
lieve the  poor  and  thy  honest  friends,  and 
give  means  to  thy  posterity  to  live  and  de- 
fend   themselves    and    thine    own    fame. 

[29] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

Where  it  is  said  in  the  Proverbs,  that  '  he 
shall  be  sore  vexed  that  is  surety  for  a 
stranger,  and  he  that  hateth  suretyship  is 
sure ' :  it  is  farther  said,  '  the  poor  is  hated 
even  of  his  own  neighbour,  but  the  rich 
have  many  friends.'  Lend  not  to  him 
that  is  mightier  than  thyself,  for  if  thou 
lendest  him,  count  it  but  lost.  Be  not 
surety  above  thy  power,  for  if  thou  be 
surety  think  to  pay  it. 

What  sort  of  Servants  are  fittest 
TO  BE  ENTERTAINED. — Let  thy  Servants 
be  such  as  thou  mayest  command,  and 
entertain  none  about  thee  but  yoemen,  to 
whom  thou  givest  wages ;  for  those  that 
will  serve  thee  without  thy  hire,  will  cost 
thee  treble  as  much  as  they  that  know  thy 
fare  :  if  thou  trust  any  servant  with  thy 
purse,  be  sure  thou  take  his  account  ere 
thou  sleep ;  for  if  thou  put  it  off,  thou 
wilt   then  afterwards  for  tediousness,  neg- 

[30] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

lect  it.  I  myself  have  thereby  lost  more 
than  I  am  worth.  And  whatever  thy 
servant  gaineth  thereby,  he  will  never 
thank  thee,  but  laugh  thy  simplicity  to 
scorn  ;  and  besides,  'tis  the  way  to  make 
thy  servants  thieves,  which  else  would  be 
honest. 

Brave  Rags  wear  soonest  out  of 
Fashion. — Exceed  not  in  the  humour  of 
rags  and  bravery,  for  these  will  soon  wear 
out  of  fashion  ;  but  money  in  thy  purse 
will  ever  be  in  fashion  ;  and  no  man  is 
esteemed  for  gay  garments,  but  by  fools 
and  women. 

Riches  not  to  be  sought  by  evil 
Means. — On  the  other  side,  take  heed 
that  thou  seek  not  riches  basely,  nor  attain 
them  by  evil  means  ;  destroy  no  man  for 
his  wealth,  nor  take  any  thing  from  the 
poor :  for  the  cry  and  complaint  thereof 
will   pierce    the  heavens.      And  it  is  most 

[3i] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

detestable  before  God,  and  most  dishon- 
ourable before  worthy  men  to  wrest  any 
thing  from  the  needy  and  labouring  soul. 
God  will  never  prosper  thee  in  aught,  if 
thou  offend  therein :  but  use  thy  poor 
neighbours  and  tenants  well,  pine  not  them 
and  their  children  to  add  superfluity  and 
needless  expenses  to  thyself.  He  that 
hath  pity  on  another  man's  sorrow,  shall 
be  free  from  it  himself;  and  he  that  de- 
lighteth  in,  and  scorneth  the  misery  of 
another,  shall  one  time  or  other  fall  into 
it  himself.  Remember  this  precept,  *  He 
that  hath  mercy  on  the  poor  lendeth  unto 
the  Lord,  an-d  the  Lord  will  recompense 
him  what  he  hath  given.'  I  do  not  under- 
stand those  for  poor,  which  are  vagabonds 
and  beggars,  but  those  that  labour  to  live, 
such  as  are  old  and  cannot  travel,  such 
poor  widows  and  fatherless  children  as  are 
ordered  to  be  relieved,  and  the  poor  tenants 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

that  travail  to  pay  their  rents  and  are 
driven  to  poverty  by  mischance,  and  not 
by  riot  or  careless  expenses  ;  on  such  have 
thou  compassion,  and  God  will  bless  thee 
for  it.  Make  not  the  hungry  soul  sorrow- 
ful, defer  not  thy  gift  to  the  needy,  for  if 
he  curse  thee  in  the  bitterness  of  his  soul, 
his  prayer  shall  be  heard  of  him  that  made 
him. 

What    Inconveniences    happen    to 

SUCH      AS       DELIGHT       IN       WiNE. Take 

especial  care  that  thou  delight  not  in  wine, 
for  there  never  was  any  man  that  came  to 
honour  or  preferment  that  loved  it ;  for  it 
transformeth  a  man  into  a  beast,  decayeth 
health,  poisoneth  the  breath,  destroyeth 
natural  heat,  brings  a  man's  stomach  to 
an  artificial  heat,  deformeth  the  face,  rot- 
teth  the  teeth,  and  to  conclude,  maketh  a 
man  contemptible,  soon  old,  and  despised 
of  all  wise  and  worthy  men  ;  hated  in  thy 

I  33] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

servants,  in  thyself  and  companions ;  for 
it  is  a  bewitching  and  infectious  vice ;  and 
remember  my  words,  that  it  were  better 
for  a  man  to  be  subject  to  any  vice  than 
to  it ;  for  all  other  vanities  and  sins  are 
recovered,  but  a  drunkard  will  never  shake 
off  the  delight  of  beastliness ;  for  the 
longer  it  possesses  a  man,  the  more  he 
will  delight  in  it,  and  the  older  he  groweth, 
the  more  he  will  be  subject  to  it ;  for  it 
dulleth  the  spirits  and  destroyeth  the  body, 
as  ivy  doth  the  old  tree  ;  or  as  the  worm 
that  engendereth  in  the  kernel  of  the 
nut. 

Take  heed  therefore  that  such  a  cure- 
less canker  pass  not  thy  youth,  nor  such  a 
beastly  infection  thy  old  age ;  for  then 
shall  all  thy  life  be  but  as  the  life  of  a 
beast,  and  after  thy  death,  thou  shalt  only 
leave  a  shameful  infamy  to  thy  posterity, 
who  shall  study  to   forget  that  such  a  one 

[34] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

was  their  father.  Anacharsis  saith,  the 
first  draught  serveth  for  health,  the  second 
for  pleasure,  the  third  for  shame,  the 
fourth  for  madness ;  but  in  youth  there  is 
not  so  much  as  one  draught  permitted ; 
for  it  putteth  fire  to  fire ;  and  therefore 
except  thou  desire  to  hasten  thine  end, 
take  this  for  a  general  rule,  that  thou 
never  add  any  artificial  heat  to  thy  body, 
by  wine  or  spice,  until  thou  find  that  time 
hath  decayed  thy  natural  heat,  and  the 
sooner  thou  beginnest  to  help  nature,  the 
sooner  she  will  forsake  thee,  and  trust  al- 
together to  art.  Who  have  misfortunes, 
saith  Solomon,  who  have  sorrow  and  grief, 
who  have  trouble  without  fighting,  stripes 
without  cause,  and  faintness  of  eyes  ?  even 
they  that  sit  at  wine,  and  strain  themselves 
to  empty  cups.  Pliny  saith,  wine  maketh 
the  hand  quivering,  the  eyes  watery,  the 
night    unquiet,   lewd    dreams,  a    stinking 

[35] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

breath   in   the   morning,  and  an  utter  for- 
getfulness  of  all  things. 

Whosoever  loveth  wine,  shall  not  be 
trusted  of  any  man,  for  he  cannot  keep  a 
secret.  Wine  maketh  man  not  only  a 
beast,  but  a  madman;  and  if  thou  love  it, 
thy  own  wife,  thy  children  and  thy  friends 
will  despise  thee.  In  drink,  men  care  not 
what  they  say,  what  offence  they  give, 
forget  comehness,  commit  disorders ;  and 
to  conclude,  offend  all  virtuous  and  honest 
company,  and  God  most  of  all,  to  whom 
we  daily  pray  for  health,  and  a  life  free 
from  pain;  and  yet  by  drunkenness  and 
gluttony  (which  is  the  drunkenness  of 
feeding),  we  draw  on,  saith  Hesiod,  a 
swift,  hasty,  untimely,  cruel,  and  an  in- 
famous old  age.  And  St.  Augustine  des- 
cribeth  drunkenness  in  this  manner: 
*  Ebrietas  est  blandus  Daemon,  dulce  vene- 
num,    suave    peccatum ;    quod  qui    habet 

[36] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

seipsum  non  habet ;  quod  qui  facit,  pec- 
catum  non  facit,  sed  ipse  est  peccatum.' 

*■  Drunkenness  is  a  flattering  devil,  a 
sweet  poison,  a  pleasant  sin,  which  who- 
soever hath,  hath  not  himself,  which  who- 
soever doth  commit,  doth  not  commit  sin, 
but  he  himself  is  wholly  sin.' 

Innocentius  saith, '  Quid  turpius  ebrioso, 
cui  foetor  in  ore,  tremor  in  corpore,  qui 
promit  stulta,  prodit  occulta,  cui  mens 
alienatur,  facies  transformatur  ?  Nullum 
secretum  ubi  regnat  ebrietas,  et  quid  non 
aliud  designat  malum  ?  Fecundi  calices 
quem  non  fecere  disertum  ? ' 

*  What  is  filthier  than  a  drunken  man, 
to  whom  there  is  stink  in  the  mouth, 
trembling  in  the  body ;  which  uttereth 
foolish  things,  and  revealeth  secret  things  ; 
whose  mind  is  alienate  and  face  trans- 
formed ?  There  is  no  secrecy  where 
drunkenness  rules  ;   nay,  what  other  mis- 

[37] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

chief  doth  it  not  design  ?  whom  have  not 
plentiful  cups  made  eloquent  and  talking  ? ' 

When  Diogenes  saw  a  house  to  be  sold, 
whereof  the  owner  was  given  to  drink,  '  I 
thought  at  the  last,'  quoth  Diogenes,  '  he 
would  vomit  a  whole  house.' 

Let  God  be  thy  Protector  and 
Director  in  all  thy  Actions. — Now, 
for  the  world,  I  know  it  too  well,  to  per- 
suade thee  to  dive  into  the  practices 
thereof;  rather  stand  upon  thine  own 
guard  against  all  that  tempt  thee  there- 
unto, or  may  practise  upon  thee  in  thy 
conscience,  thy  reputation,  or  thy  purse ; 
resolve  that  no  man  is  wise  or  safe,  but  he 
that  is  honest. 

Serve  God,  let  him  be  the  author  of  all 
thy  actions,  commend  all  thy  endeavours 
to  him  that  must  either  wither  or  prosper 
them  ;  please  him  with  prayer,  lest  if  he 
frown,  he  confound    all  thy  fortunes  and 

[38] 


PRACIICAL    WISDOM 

labours  like  the  drops  of  rain  on  the  sandy 
ground  :  let  my  experienced  advice,  and 
fatherly  instructions,  sink  deep  into  thy 
heart.  So  God  direct  thee  in  all  his  ways, 
and  fill  thy  heart  with  his  grace. 


[39] 


FRANCIS  OSBORN'S  ADVICE 
TO  A  SON 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

FRANCIS  OSBORN'S  ADVICE 
TO  A  SON 

EDUCATION.  —  Though  I  can 
never  pay  enough  to  your  grand- 
father's memory,  for  his  tender  care  of  my 
education,  yet  I  must  observe  in  it  this 
mistake ;  that  by  keeping  me  at  home,  where 
I  was  one  of  my  young  masters,  I  lost  the 
advantage  of  my  most  docile  time.  For  not 
undergoing  the  same  discipline,  I  must 
needs  come  short  of  their  experience,  that 
are  bred  up  in  free  schools  ;  who,  by  plotting 
to  rob  an  orchard,  etc,  run  through  all  the 
subtleties  required  in  taking  of  a  town; 
being  made,  by  use,  familiar  to  secrecy  and 
compliance  with  opportunity ;  qualities 
never  after  to  be  attained  at  cheaper  rates 
than  the  hazard  of  all :  whereas  these  see 
the  danger  of  trusting  others,  and  the  rocks 

[43] 


uri'ir^'    r^'jrtMrtM 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

they  fall  upon,  by  a  too  obstinate  adhering 
to  their  own  imprudent  resolutions ;  and 
all  this  under  no  ■  higher  penalty  than  a 
whipping  :  and  'tis  possible  this  indulgence 
of  my  father  might  be  the  cause  I  afforded 
him  so  poor  a  return  for  all  his  cost. 

Let  not  an  over-passionate  prosecution 
of  learning  draw  you  from  making  an 
honest  improvement  of  your  estate ;  as 
such  do,  who  are  better  read  in  the  bigness 
of  the  whole  earth,  than  that  little  spot, 
left  them  by  their  friends,  for  their  support. 

A  mixed  education  suits  employment 
best :  scholars  and  citizens,  by  a  too  long 
plodding  in  the  same  track,  have  their  ex- 
perience seldom  dilated  beyond  the  circle 
of  a  narrow  profession ;  of  which  they 
carry  so  apparent  marks,  as  bewray  in  all 
places,  by  their  words  and  gestures,  the 
ped  and  company  they  were  brought  up 
in  J  so   that   all  ways   of   preferment    are 

[44] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

stopped  against  them,  through  others'  pre- 
judice, or  their  own  natural  insufficiency} 
it  being  ordinary  in  their  practice  to  mis- 
take a  wilful  insolence  for  a  resolute  con- 
fidence, and  pride  for  gravity  ;  the  short- 
ness of  the  tether  their  long  restraint 
confined  them  to,  not  affording  convenient 
room  to  take  a  decent  measure  of  virtue 
and  vice.  So  by  using  others  as  they 
were  dealt  with  themselves,  repute  is  lost 
when  they  come  to  command ;  it  being 
justified  in  history,  that  slaves  after  they 
have  forgot  all  fear  of  the  sword,  cannot 
shake  off  the  terror  of  the  whip.  There- 
fore few  not  freely  educated,  can  wear 
decently  the  habit  of  a  court,  or  behave 
themselves  in  such  a  mediocrity,  as  shall 
not  discover  too  much  idolatry  towards 
those  in  a  superior  orb,  or  disdain  in  rela- 
tion to  such,  as  fortune  rather  than  merit 
hath  possibly  placed  below  them. 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

I  have  observed  in  collegiate  discipline, 
that  all  the  reverence  to  superiors,  learned 
in  the  hall  or  chapel,  is  lost  in  the  irrever- 
ent discourse  you  have  of  them  in  your 
chambers  ;  by  this,  you  leave  the  principal 
business  of  youth  neglected,  which  is,  to 
be  perfect  in  patience  and  obedience ; 
habits  nowhere  so  exactly  learned,  as  in 
the  foundations  of  the  Jesuits,  could  they 
be  fetched  thence  without  prejudice  to 
religion  or  freedom. 

If  a  more  profitable  employment  pull 
you  not  too  soon  from  the  university, 
make  some  inspection  into  physic  ;  which 
will  add  to  your  welcome  wherever  you 
come  ;  it  being  usual,  especially  for  ladies, 
to  yield  no  less  reverence  to  their  physi- 
cians, than  their  confessors  :  neither  doth 
the  refusal  of  fees  abate  your  profit  pro- 
portionably  to  the  advancement  it  brings  to 
your  credit :  the  intricacy  of  the  study  is  not 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

great,  after  an  exact  knowledge  in  anatomy 
and  drugs  is  obtained  ;  not  hard,  by  reason 
of  the  late  helps.  Yet  I  advise  you  this, 
under  such  caution,  as  not  to  imagine  the 
diseases  you  read  of,  inherent  in  yourself; 
as  some  melancholic  young  men  do,  that 
make  their  first  experiments  upon  their  own 
bodies,  to  their  perpetual  detriment ;  there- 
fore you  may  live  by,  not  upon  physic. 

Huge  volumes,  like  the  ox  roasted  at 
Bartholomew  Fair,  may  proclaim  plenty 
of  labour  and  invention,  but  afford  less  of 
what  is  delicate,  savoury  and  well  con- 
cocted, than  smaller  pieces  :  this  makes 
me  think,  that  though,  upon  occasion,  you 
may  come  to  the  table,  and  examine  the 
bill  of  fare,  set  down  by  such  authors  ;  yet 
it  cannot  but  lessen  ingenuity,  still  to  fall 
aboard  with  them  ;  human  sufficiency 
being  too  narrow,  to  inform  with  the  pure 
soul  of  reason,  such  vast  bodies. 

[47] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

As  the  grave  hides  the  fauhs  of  physic, 
no  less  than  mistakes,  opinion  and  con- 
trary applications  are  known  to  have  en- 
riched the  art  withal ;  so  many  old  books, 
by  like  advantages  rather  than  desert,  have 
crawled  up  to  an  esteem  above  new  :  it 
being  the  business  of  better  heads  perhaps 
than  ever  their  writers  owned,  to  put  a 
glorious  and  significant  gloss  upon  the 
meanest  conceit  or  improbable  opinion  of 
antiquity  :  whereas  modern  authors  are 
brought  by  critics  to  a  strict  account  for 
the  smallest  semblance  of  a  mistake.  If 
you  consider  this  seriously,  it  will  learn 
you  more  moderation,  if  not  wisdom. 

Be  conversant  in  the  speeches,  declara- 
tions, and  transactions  occasioned  by  the 
late  war :  out  of  which  more  natural  and 
useful  knowledge  may  be  sucked,  than  is 
ordinarily  to  be  found  in  the  mouldy 
records  of  antiquity. 

[48] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

When  I  consider  with  what  contradic- 
tion reports  arrived  at  us,  during  our  late 
civil  wars,  I  can  give  the  less  encourage- 
ment to  the  reading  of  history  :  romances, 
never  acted,  being  born  purer  from  sophis- 
tication than  actions  reported  to  be  done, 
by  which  posterity  hereafter,  no  less  than 
antiquity  heretofore,  is  likely  to  be  led 
into  a  false,  or  at  best,  but  a  contingent 
belief.  Caesar,  though  in  this  happy,  that  he 
had  a  pen  able  to  grave  into  neat  language 
what  his  sword  at  first  more  roughly  cut  out, 
may  in  my  judgment,  abuse  his  reader :  for 
he,  that  for  the  honour  of  his  own  wit,  doth 
make  people  speak  better  than  can  be  sup- 
posed men  so  barbarously  bred  were  able, 
may  possibly  report  they  fought  worse  than 
really  they  did.  Of  a  like  value  are  the 
orations  of  Thucydides,  Livy,  Tacitus,  and 
most  other  historians  ;  which  doth  not  a 
little  prejudice  the  truth  of  all  the  rest. 

U9] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

Were  it  worthy  or  capable  to  receive  so 
much  illumination  from  one  never  made 
welcome  by  it,  I  should  tell  the  world,  as 
I  do  you,  there  is  as  little  reason  to  believe 
men  know  certainly  all  they  write,  as  to 
think  they  write  all  they  imagine  :  and  as 
this  cannot  be  admitted  without  danger,  so 
the  other,  though  it  may  in  shame  be  de- 
nied, is  altogether  as  true. 

A  few  books  well  studied,  and  thor- 
oughly digested,  nourish  the  understanding 
more  than  hundreds  but  gargled  in  the 
mouth,  as  ordinary  students  use:  and  of 
these  choice  must  be  had  answerable  to 
the  profession  you  intend  :  for  a  states- 
man, French  authors  are  best,  as  most 
fruitful  in  negotiations  and  memoirs,  left 
by  public  ministers  and  by  their  secretar- 
ies, published  after  their  deaths :  out  of 
which  you  may  be  able  to  unfold  the  rid- 
dles   of   all    states :     none    making    more 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

faithful  reports  of  things  done  in  all 
nations,  than  ambassadors ;  who  cannot 
want  the  best  intelligence,  because  their 
princes'  pensioners  unload  in  their  bosoms, 
all  they  can  discover.  And  here,  by  way 
of  prevention,  let  me  inform  you,  that 
some  of  our  late  ambassadors,  which  I 
could  name,  impaired  our  affairs,  by  treat- 
ing with  foreign  princes  in  the  language 
of  the  place  :  by  which  they  did  not  only 
descend  below  their  master's  dignity,  but 
their  own  discretion  :  betraying,  for  want 
of  words  of  gravity,  the  intrinsic  part  of 
their  employment :  and  going  beyond  their 
commission  oftener  by  concession,  than 
confining  themselves  within  it,  or  to  it ; 
the  true  rule  for  a  minister  of  state,  not 
hard  to  be  gained  by  a  resolute  contest : 
which  if  made  by  an  interpreter,  he,  like  a 
medium,  may  intercept  the  shame  of  any 
impertinent    speech,    which    eagerness  or 

[51] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

indiscretion  may  let  slip  :  neither  is  it  a 
small  advantage  to  gain  so  much  time  for 
deliberation,  which  is  fit  farther  to  urge  : 
it  being  besides,  too  much  an  honouring 
of  their  tongue,  and  undervaluing  your 
own,  to  profess  yourself  a  master  therein, 
especially  since  they  scorn  to  learn  yours. 
And  to  show  this  is  not  grounded  on  my 
single  judgment,  I  have  often  been  in- 
formed, that  the  first  and  wisest  Earl  of 
Pembroke,  did  return  an  answer  to  the 
Spanish  ambassador,  in  Welsh,  for  which 
I  have  heard  him  highly  commended. 

It  is  an  aphorism  in  physic,  that  un- 
wholesome airs,  because  perpetually  sucked 
into  the  lungs,  do  distemper  health  more 
than  coarser  diet,  used  but  at  set  times  : 
the  like  may  be  said  of  company,  which  if 
good,  is  a  better  refiner  of  the  spirits,  than 
ordinary  books. 

Propose    not    them    for    patterns,  who 

[52] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

make  all  places  rattle,  where  they  come, 
with  Latin  and  Greek ;  for  the  more 
you  seem  to  have  borrowed  from  books, 
the  poorer  you  proclaim  your  natural 
parts,  which  only  can  properly  be  called 
yours. 

Follow  not  the  tedious  practice  of  such 
as  seek  wisdom  only  in  learning  ;  not  at- 
tainable but  by  experience  and  natural 
parts.  Much  reading,  like  a  too  great 
repletion,  stopping  up,  through  a  concourse 
of  diverse,  sometimes  contrary  opinions, 
the  access  of  a  nearer,  newer,  and  quicker 
invention  of  your  own.  And  for  quota- 
tions, they  resemble  sugar  in  wine,  mar- 
ring the  natural  taste  of  the  liquor,  if  it  be 
good;  if  bad,  that  of  itself :  such  patches 
rather  making  the  rent  seem  greater,  by 
an  interruption  of  the  style,  than  less,  if 
not  so  neatly  applied  as  to  fall  in  without 
drawing :   nor    is  any  thief   in    this   kind 

[53] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

sufFerable,  who  comes  not  off,  like  a 
Lacedemonian,  without  discovery. 

The  way  to  elegancy  of  style,  is  to  em- 
ploy your  pen  upon  every  errand  ;  and  the 
more  trivial  and  dry  it  is,  the  more  brains 
must  be  allowed  for  sauce  :  thus  by  check- 
ing all  ordinary  invention,  your  reason 
will  attain  to  such  a  habit,  as  not  to  dare 
to  present  you  but  with  what  is  excellent ; 
and  if  void  of  affection,  it  matters  not 
how  mean  the  subject  is  :  there  being  the 
same  exactness  observed,  by  good  archi- 
tects, in  the  structure  of  the  kitchen,  as 
the  parlour. 

When  business  or  compliment  calls  you 
to  write  letters,  consider  what  is  fit  to  be 
said,  were  the  party  present,  and  set  down 
that. 

Avoid  words  or  phrases  likely  to  be 
learned  in  base  company ;  lest  you  fall 
into  the  error  the  late  Archbishop  Laud 

[54] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

did  ;  who  though  no  ill  speaker,  yet  blunted 
his  repute  by  saying  in  the  Star  Chamber, 
men  entered  the  church  as  a  tinker  and 
his  bitch  do  an  alehouse. 

The  small  reckoning  I  have  seen  made, 
especially  in  their  lifetime,  of  excellent 
wits,  bids  me  advise  you,  that  if  you  find 
any  delight  in  writing,  to  go  on  :  but,  in 
hope  to  please  or  satisfy  others,  I  would 
not  black  the  end  of  a  quill :  for  long 
experience  hath  taught  me,  that  builders 
always,  and  writers  for  the  most  part, 
spend  their  money  and  time  in  the  pur- 
chase of  reproof  and  censure  from  en- 
vious    contemporaries,    or     self-conceited 

posterity. 

Be  not  frequent  in  poetry,  how  excellent 

soever    your   vein    is,  but   make   it  rather 

your    recreation,   than    business :   because 

though  it  swells  you  in  your  own  opinion, 

it   may  render  you  less    in   that   of  wiser 

[55  J 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

men,  who  are  not  ignorant,  how  great  a 
mass  of  vanity,  for  the  most  part,  coucheth 
under  this  quality,  proclaiming  their  heads 
like  ships,  of  use  only  for  pleasure,  and  so 
richer  in  trimming  than  lading. 

It  is  incident  to  many,  but   as   it  were 
natural    with    poets,  to  think  others  take 
the  like  pleasure  in  hearing,  as  they  do  in 
reading  their  own  inventions.     Not  con- 
sidering, that    the  generality  of   ears   are 
commonly   stopped  with  prejudice  of  ig- 
norance :   neither  can  the   understandings 
of   men,  any  more  than    their  tastes,  be 
wooed  to  find  a  like  savour  in  all  things ; 
one  approving  what  others  condemn,  upon 
no  weightier   an  account  than  the  single 
score   of  their  own  opinions.     Yet  some, 
like   infirm  people,  make  it  the  chief  part 
of  their  entertainment,  to  show  strangers 
their  gouty    lines ;  in  which  they  do   not 
seldom  become  more  unhappy  than  those 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

really  diseased,  who  by  such  boldness  do 
sometimes  hear  of  a  remedy. 

The  art  of  music  is  so  unable  to  refund 
for  the  time  and   cost   required  to  be  per- 
fect therein,  as   I   cannot   think  it    worth 
any  serious  endeavour :   the  owner  of  that 
quality  being  still  obliged  to  the  trouble  of 
calculating    the     difference     between    the 
morose  humour  of  a  rigid  refuser,  and  the 
cheap  and   prostituted  levity  and  forward- 
ness of  a  mercenary  fiddler.      Denial  being 
as  often  taken    for   pride,  as  a  too  ready 
compliance  falls  under  the  notion  of  os- 
tentation :  those  so  qualified  seldom  know- 
ing when  it  is  time  to  begin,  or  give  over; 
especially  women,  who   do  not  rarely  de- 
cline   in    modesty,  proportionably  to  the 
progress  they  make  in  music. 

Wear  your  clothes  neat,  exceeding 
rather  than  coming  short  of  others  of  like 
fortune  ;  a  charge  borne  out  by  acceptance 

[77] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

wherever  you  come ;  therefore  spare  all 
other  ways  rather  than  prove  defective  in 
this. 

Never  buy  but  with  ready  money ;  and 
be  drawn  rather  to  fix  where  you  find 
things  cheap  and  good,  than  for  friendship 
or  acquaintance,  who  are  apt  to  take  it 
unkindly,  if  you  will  not  be  cheated.  For 
if  you  get  nothing  else  by  going  from  one 
shop  to  another,  you  shall  gain  experience. 

Next  to  clothes,  a  good  horse  becomes 
a  gentleman  :  in  whom  can  be  no  great 
loss,  after  you  have  got  the  skill  to  choose 
him  ;  which  once  attained,  you  may  keep 
yourself  from  being  cozened,  and  pleasure 
your  friend  :  the  greatest  danger  is  haste  : 
I  never  loved  to  fix  on  one  fat,  for  then  I 
saw  him  at  the  best,  without  hope  of  im- 
provement :  if  you  have  fallen  on  a  bar- 
gain not  for  your  turn,  make  the  market 
your  chapman,  rather  than  a  friend. 

[58] 


PRAC1ICAL    WISDOM 

Gallop  not  through  a  town,  for  fear  of 
hurting  yourself  or  others  ;  besides  the  in- 
decency of  it,  which  may  give  cause  to 
such  as  see  you,  to  think  your  horse  or 
brains  none  of  your  own. 

Wrestling  and  vaulting  have  ever  been 
looked  upon  by  me  as  more  useful  than 
fencing,  being  often  out-dared  by  resolu- 
tion, because  of  the  vast  difference  between 
a  foyn  and  a  sword,  a  house  and  a  field. 

Swimming  may  save  a  man,  in  case  of 
necessity ;  though  it  loseth  many,  when 
practised  in  wantonness,  by  increasing 
their  confidence ;  therefore,  for  pleasure 
exceed  not  your  depth  ;  and  in  seeking  to 
save  another,  beware  of  drowning  yourself. 

Though  Machiavel  sets  down  hunting 
and  hawking  in  the  bill  of  advice  he  pre- 
scribes to  a  prince,  as  not  only  the  whole- 
somest  and  cheapest  diversions,  both  in 
relation  to  himself  and  his  people,  but  the 

[59] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

best  tutors  to  horsemanship,  stratagems 
and  situations  on  which  he  may  have  after 
occasion  to  place  an  army.  Yet  these  are 
so  much  under  the  disposition  of  chance, 
the  most  delightful  part  being  wholly  man- 
aged according  to  the  sense  of  the  crea- 
ture, that  by  such  cross  accidents,  as  do 
not  seldom  intervene,  storms  of  choler  are 
often  raised,  in  which  many  humours 
flash  out,  that  in  a  greater  serenity  pru- 
dence would  undoubtedly  conceal :  so  as  I 
could  name  some  reputed  owners  of  a 
habit  of  policy,  more  ruffled,  and  farther 
put  out  of  their  bias,  by  a  small  rub  lying 
in  the  way  of  their  pleasure,  than  a  greater 
could  cause  in  that  of  their  profit.  And 
as  sinister  events  in  these  pastimes  deject 
a  man  below  the  ordinary  level  of  discre- 
tion, so  a  happy  success  doth  as  often 
wind  him  up  to  such  a  jovial  pin,  that  he 
becomes    a    familiar   companion  to  those 

[60] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

who  can  inform  his  judgment  in  little,  but 
what  signifies  nothing,  and  whom  in  a 
more  reserved  temper  he  would  think  it 
tedious  to  hear,  yet  cannot  after  shake  off 
their  acquaintance,  without  incurring  the 
censure  of  pride  or  inconstancy.  Neither 
am  I  led  to  this  opinion  by  any  particular 
disaffection,  but  out  of  the  greater  rever- 
ence I  bear  to  the  wisdom  of  Sir  Philip 
Sidney,  who  said,  that  next  hunting  he 
liked  hawking  worst.  However  though 
he  may  have  fallen  into  as  hyperbolical  an 
extreme,  yet  who  can  put  too  great  a  scorn 
upon  their  folly  that  to  bring  home  a 
rascal  deer,  or  a  few  rotten  coneys,  submit 
their  lives  to  the  will  or  passion  of  such  as 
may  take  them,  under  a  penalty  no  less 
slight  than  there  is  discretion  shown  in 
exposing  them. 

Such    as    are     betrayed    by    their    easy 
nature,  to   be   ordinary  security   for  their 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

friends,  leave  so  little  to  themselves,  as 
their  liberty  remains  ever  after  arbitrary  at 
the  will  of  others.  Experience  having 
recorded  many,  whom  their  fathers  had 
left  elbow  room  enough,  that  by  suretyship 
have  expired  in  a  dungeon.  But  if  you 
cannot  avoid  this  labyrinth,  enter  no  farther 
than  the  thread  of  your  own  stock  will 
reach ;  the  observation  of  which  will,  at 
worst,  enable  you  to  bail  yourself. 

Let  not  the  titles  of  consanguinity  be- 
tray you  into  a  prejudicial  trust ;  no  blood 
being  apter  to  raise  a  fever  or  cause  a 
consumption  sooner  in  your  poor  estate, 
than  that  which  is  nearest  your  own ;  as  I 
have  most  unhappily  found,  and  your  good 
grandfather  presaged,  though  God  was 
pleased  to  leave  it  in  none  of  our  powers 
to  prevent :  nothing  being  truer  in  all 
Solomon's  observations,  than  that  a  good 
friend  is  nearer  than  an  unnatural  brother. 

[62] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

He  that  lends  upon  public  faith  is  se- 
curity for  his  own  money,  and  can  blame 
none  more  than  himself,  if  never  paid ; 
common  debts,  like  common  lands,  lying 
ever  most  neglected. 

Honesty  treats  with  the  world  upon 
such  vast  disadvantage,  that  a  pen  is  often 
as  useful  to  defend  you  as  a  sword,  by 
making  writing  the  witness  of  your  con- 
tracts ;  for  where  profit  appears,  it  doth 
commonly  cancel  the  bands  of  friendship, 
religion,  and  the  memory  of  anything  that 
can  produce  no  other  register  than  what 
is  verbal. 

In  a  case  of  importance,  hear  the  reasons 
of  others  pleaded,  but  be  sure  not  to  be  so 
implicitly  led  by  their  judgments,  as  to 
neglect  a  greater  of  your  own,  as  Charles 
of  England  did,  to  the  loss  of  his  crown  j 
for  as  the  ordinary  saying  is.  Count  money 
after    your    father,  so  the  same  prudence 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 


adviseth  to  measure  the  ends  of  all  coun- 
sels, though  uttered  by  never  so  intimate  a 
friend. 

Beware,  nevertheless,  of  thinking  your- 
self wiser  or  greater  than  you  are.  Pride 
brake  the  angels  in  heaven,  and  spoils  all 
heads  we  find  cracked  here ;  for  such  as 
observe  those  in  Bedlam,  shall  perceive 
their  fancies  to  beat  most  upon  mistakes 
in  honour  or  love.  The  way  to  avoid  it 
is,  duly  to  consider  how  many  are  above 
you  in  parts,  yet  below  you  in  condition; 
and  that  all  men  are  ignorant  in  so  many 
things,  as  may  justly  humble  them,  though 
sufficiently  knowing  to  bar  out  despair. 

Shun  pride  and  baseness  as  tutors  to 
contempt,  the  first  of  others,  the  latter  of 
yourself,  a  haughty  carriage  putting  as 
well  a  mean  esteem  on  what  is  praise- 
worthy in  you,  as  an  high  excise  on  that 
appears    amiss,  every  one   being   more  in- 

[64] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

quisitive  after  the  blemishes  than  the 
beauties  of  a  proud  person  ;  whereas  the 
humble  soul  passeth  the  strictest  guards 
with  more  faults,  like  the  fair-mouthed 
traveller,  without  scorn  or  searching. 

Though  it  be  common  with  the  King 
of  Heaven  to  punish  the  wicked  and  re- 
ward the  good,  yet  we  find  him  said  to  re- 
sist no  vice  but  pride,  nor  exalt  other  vir- 
tue than  humility,  that  being  the  only  sin 
we  read  of  ever  brake  into  his  court  un- 
washed by  forgivenness,  where  she  became 
the  first  precedent  of  God's  lessening  his 
family,  and  the  foundress  of  hell.  Nor 
are  his  vicegerents  upon  earth  more  aus- 
picious to  a  lofty  look,  for  any  affection 
they  do  naturally  bear  to  it  or  its  owners, 
though  sometimes  they  dissemble  their 
dislike,  out  of  the  use  they  make  of  such 
good  parts  as  have  the  ill-fortune  to  be  so 
accompanied,  this  vice  being  taken  as  in- 

[65j 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

trusion  upon  majesty,  the  only  birthright 
of  princes.  Therefore,  dear  son,  let  not 
the  apprehension  of  your  merit  lead  you 
up  to  this  pinnacle,  from  whence  many 
have  fallen  to  their  utter  ruin — nothing 
you  find  about  you  being  your  own,  but 
scraps  stolen  from  books,  and  begged,  or 
rather  dearly  bought,  of  experience  :  this 
proves  the  vanity  of  pride,  that  though  she 
is  able  to  boast  of  no  more  than  she  hath 
received  (the  hive  being  possibly  altered, 
but  not  the  honey),  yet  she  is  ravished  so 
with  the  conceit  of  what  she  hath,  a  con- 
templation befitting  only  the  Lord  of  all 
things,  as  to  neglect  a  supply  of  what  is 
wanting,  which,  justly  summed  up, 
amounts  to  more  than  the  abilities  of  any 
one  man  are  able  to  reach. 

When  you  speak  to  any,  especially  of 
quality,  look  them  full  in  the  face ;  other 
gestures  bewraying  want  of  breeding,  con- 

1^1 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

fidence,  or  honesty,  dejected  eyes  confess- 
ing, to  most  judgments,  guilt  or  folly. 

Impudence  is  no  virtue,  yet  able  to 
beggar  them  all,  being  for  the  most  part 
in  good  plight  when  the  rest  starve,  and 
capable  of  carrying  her  followers  up  to  the 
highest  preferments :  found  as  useful  in  a 
court  as  armour  in  a  camp. 

I  do  not  find  you  guilty  of  covetousness, 
neither  can  I  say  more  of  it,  but  that  like  a 
candle  ill  made,  it  smothers  the  splendour 
of  an  happy  fortune  in  its  own  grease. 

Yet  live  so  frugally,  if  possible,  as  to 
reserve  something  that  may  enable  you  to 
grapple  with  any  future  contingency  ;  and 
provide  in  youth,  since  fortune  hath  this 
proper  with  other  common  mistresses,  that 
she  deserts  age,  especially  in  the  company 
of  want. 

'Tis  generally  said  of  the  fox,  that  he 
supplants  the  badger,  and   nestles  himself 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

in  his  den.  What  may  be  pure  nature  in 
him,  wise  Seneca  adviseth  for  the  highest 
prudence — rather  to  purchase  a  house 
ready  built,  than  endure  the  tedious  and 
troublesome  expectation  and  charge  at- 
tending the  most  diligent  and  able  con- 
triver, who  cannot  find  so  much  pleasure 
in  seeing  his  ideas  brought  into  form,  as 
he  shall  meet  discontent  from  the  mistakes 
of  his  commands,  greatness  of  the  expense, 
and  idleness  of  the  workmen,  who,  the 
better  to  draw  men  into  this  labyrinth, 
make  things  appear  more  cheap  and  easy 
than  any  undertaker  of  such  a  task  ever 
yet  found,  knowing,  if  once  engaged,  the 
spurs  of  shame  and  necessity  will  drive 
him  on ;  when  the  buyer  may  take  or 
leave,  having  a  worlu  to  choose  in,  and 
the  choicest  conveniences  at  another's 
cost,  without  participating  of  their  dis- 
grace for  such  faults  as  curiosity  may  find, 

[68] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

and  he  himself  might  have  fallen  into  had 
he  been  operator,  since  nothing  was  ever 
yet  so  exactly  contrived,  but  better  inform- 
ation, or  a  new  discovery  of  a  more  com- 
modious fashion  or  situation  did  arraign 
of  defect — which  altogether  proves  it  the 
best  advice,  rather  to  endure  the  absurdi- 
ties of  others  gratis,  than  to  be  at  the  cost 
to  commit  greater  yourself. 

Keep  no  more  servants  than  you  have 
full  employment  for;  and  if  you  find  a 
good  one,  look  upon  him  under  no  severer 
aspect  than  that  of  an  humble  friend,  the 
difference  between  such  an  one  and  his 
master  residing  rather  in  fortune  than  in 
nature.  Therefore,  do  not  put  the  worst 
constructions  upon  anything  he  doth  well, 
or  mistakes.  Thus,  by  proportioning 
your  carriage  to  those  below,  you  will  the 
better  bring  your  mind  to  a  safe  and  easy 
deportment  to  such  as  fate  hath  set  above 

'     [69] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

you.  To  conclude,  servants  are  ever 
sharers  with  their  masters  in  prosperity, 
and  not  seldom  an  occasion  of  their  de- 
struction in  bad  times,  by  fomenting  jeal- 
ousy from  without,  or  treachery  within. 

Leave  your  bed  upon  the  first  desertion 
of  sleep  J  it  being  ill  for  the  eyes  to  read 
lying,  and  worse  for  the  mind  to  be  idle : 
since  the  head  during  that  laziness  is  com- 
monly a  cage  for  unclean  thoughts. 

It  is  nowhere  wholesome  to  eat  so  long 
as  you  are  able ;  especially  in  England, 
where  meat,  aptest  to  inveigle  the  stomach 
to  an  over-repletion,  comes  last.  But  in 
case  you  transgress  at  one  meal,  let  no 
persuasion  tempt  you  to  a  second  repast, 
till  by  a  fierce  hunger  you  find  yourself 
quite  discharged  of  the  former  excess.  An 
exact  observance  of  this  hath,  under  God, 
made  me  reach  these  times,  and  may 
through  his  mercy  preserve  you  for  better. 

[70] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

Drink,  during  the  operation  of  the  dis- 
temper, will  act  all  the  humours  habitual 
in  madmen  ;  amongst  both  which  I  have 
seen  some  very  zealous  and  devout,  who, 
the  fit  once  over,  remained  no  less  pro- 
fane. This  proves  godliness  capable  of 
being  feigned,  and  may  raise  an  use  of 
circumspection,  in  relation  to  such  as  pro- 
fess more  than  is  suitable  to  human  frailty. 

Beware  what  company  you  keep,  since 
example  prevails  more  than  precept, 
though  by  the  erudition  dropping  from 
these  tutors,  we  imbibe  all  the  tinctures 
of  virtue  and  vice  :  this  renders  it  little 
less  than  impossible  for  nature  to  hold  out 
any  long  siege  against  the  batteries  of 
custom  and  opportunity. 

Let  your  wit  rather  serve  you  for  a 
buckler  to  defend  yourself,  by  a  handsome 
reply,  than  the  sword  to  wound  others, 
though  with  never  so  facetious  a  reproach, 

[71] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

remembering  that  a  word  cuts  deeper  than 
a  sharper  weapon,  and  the  wound  it  makes 
is  longer  in  curing ;  a  blow  proceediug 
but  from  a  light  motion  of  the  hand  agi- 
tated by  passion,  whereas  a  disgraceful 
speech  is  the  result  of  a  low  and  base 
esteem  settled  of  the  party  in  your  heart. 

Much  wisdom  resides  in  the  proverbs 
of  all  nations ;  and  therefore  fit  to  be 
taken  notice  of;  of  which  number  this  is 
common  amongst  us,  play  with  me,  but 
hurt  me  not,  it  being  past  peradventure, 
that  more  duels  arise  from  jest  than  earn- 
est, and  between  friends  than  enemies ; 
serious  injuries  seldom  happening  but  upon 
premeditation,  which  affords  reason  some, 
though  perhaps  no  full  audience  ;  whereas 
this  extemporary  spirit  conjured  up  by 
shame  and  smart,  hearkens  to  nothing  but 
the  rash  advice  of  a  present  revenge. 

If  an  injury  be  of  so  rank   a   nature,  as 

[72] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

to  extort,  in  point  of  honour,  an  unsav- 
oury word,  never  suitable  to  the  mouth  of 
a  gentleman,  sword-men  advise,  to  second 
it  with  a  blow  by  way  of  prevention,  lest 
he  striking  first,  which  cannot  but  be  ex- 
pected, you  should  be  cast  behind-hand. 
But  this  their  decree  not  being  confirmed 
by  act  of  Parliament,  I  cannot  find  it  suit- 
able with  prudence  or  religion,  to  make 
the  sword  umpire  of  your  own  life  and 
another's,  no  less  than  the  law,  upon  no 
more  serious  an  occasion,  than  the  vindi- 
cation of  your  fame,  lost  or  gained,  by 
this  brutish  valour,  in  the  opinion  of  none 
that  are  either  wise  or  pious  ;  it  being  out 
of  the  reach  of  question,  that  a  quarrel  is 
not  to  be  screwed  up  to  such  a  height  of 
indiscretion,  without  arraigning  one  or 
both  parties  of  madness  :  especially  since 
formal  duels  are  but  a  late  invention  of 
the  devil's,  never  heard  of  in  relation  to  pri- 

[73] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

vate  injuries ;  among  the  Romans  the 
gladiators  fighting  for  their  pleasure,  as  the 
Horatii  and  Curatii  for  the  safety  of  the 
people.  It  cannot  be  denied,  but  that 
story  lays  before  us  many  killed  for  private 
revenge,  but  never  accompanied  with  so 
ridiculous  a  formality  as  the  sending  of 
challenges,  which  renders  the  dead  a 
greater  murderer  than  he  is  that  kills  him, 
as  being  without  doubt  the  author  of  his 
own  death.  This  makes  me  a/together 
believe,  that  such  wild  manhood  had  its 
original  from  romances,  in  which  the  giant 
is  designed  for  death  and  the  knight  to 
marry  the  lady,  whose  honour  he  hath  pre- 
served ;  not  so  gently  treated  by  the  Eng- 
lish law,  where  if  his  legs  or  friends  be 
not  the  better,  he  is  hanged  and  his  estate 
confiscated,  to  the  perpetual  detriment  of 
his  family  :  besides  the  sting  of  conscience, 
and  a  natural  fear,  like  that  of  Cain's,  at- 

[74] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

tending  blood,  by  which  the  remainder  of 
life  is  made  tedious  and  miserable  to  such 
unfortunate  men,  who  seem  in  all  honest 
company  to  smell  too  strong  of  blood,  to 
be  taken  into  any  intimate  relation. 

Prosecute  not  a  coward  too  far,  lest  you 
make  him  turn  valiant  to  your  disadvan- 
tage; it  being  impossible  for  any  standing 
even  in  the  world's  opinion,  to  gain  glory 
by  the  most  he  can  have  of  those  that  lie 
under  such  a  repute;  besides,  valour  is  rather 
the  product  of  custom,  than  nature,  and 
often  found  where  least  expected ;  do  not 
therefore  waken  it  to  your  prejudice,  as  I 
have  known  many  that  would  still  be  insult- 
ing, and  could  not  see  when  they  were  well. 

Speak  disgracefully  of  none  at  ordin- 
aries, or  public  meetings  ;  lest  some  kins- 
man, or  friend,  being  there,  should  force 
you  to  a  base  recantation,  or  engage  you 
in  a  more  indiscreet  quarrel :  this    renders 

[75] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

all  free  discourse  dangerous  at  meetings 
or  mixed  companies. 

Reveal  not  the  pranks  of  another's  love, 
how  serious  or  ridiculous  soever  you  find 
them,  it  being  unlikely  the  mirth  should 
compense  the  danger :  by  this  you  shall 
purchase  yourself  a  retentive  faculty,  and 
sell  your  friend  a  stronger  confidence  of 
your  secrecy ;  hanging  on  him  the  lock  of 
a  perpetual  obligation,  of  which  you  may 
ever  be  keeper  of  the  key,  either  out  of 
love  or  fear  :  yet  many  other  faults  are 
not  more  dangerous  to  commit,  than  know 
without  detecting. 

Be  not  trumpet  of  your  own  charity,  or 
vices  ;  for  by  the  one  you  disoblige  the 
receiver,  as  well  as  lose  your  reward ;  and 
by  the  other,  you  alarm  the  censures  of 
men  ;  most  being  condemned  through  the 
evidence  they  give  against  themselves  by 
their  words  and  gestures. 

[76] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

Travel. — Some  to  starch  a  more  serious 
face  upon  wanton,  impertinent,  and  dear- 
bought  vanity,  cry  up  travel  as  the  best 
accomplisher  of  youth  and  gentry,  though 
detected  by  experience  in  the  generaHty, 
for  the  greatest  debaucher  ;  adding  affect- 
ation to  folly,  and  atheism  to  the  curiosity 
of  many  not  well  principled  by  education  : 
such  wanderers  imitating  those  factors  of 
Solomon,  that  together  with  gold,  returned 
apes  and  peacocks. 

They,  and  only  they,  advantage  them- 
selves by  travel,  who,  well  fraught  with 
the  experience  of  what  their  own  country 
affords,  carry  over  with  them  large  and 
thriving  talents,  as  those  servants  did, 
commended  by  our  Saviour :  for  he  that 
hath  nothing  to  venture  but  poor,  despica- 
ble, and  solitary  parts,  may  be  so  far  from 
improvement,  as  he  hazards  quite  to  lose 
and    bury  them    in    the   external  levity  of 

[77] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

France,  pride  of  Spain,  and  treachery  of 
Italy ;  because  not  being  able  to  take  ac- 
quaintance abroad  of  more  prudence,  than 
he  meets  with  in  the  streets  and  other 
public  places,  the  activity  of  his  legs  and 
arms  may  possibly  be  augmented,  and  he, 
by  tedious  compliments,  become  more  ac- 
ceptable in  the  eyes  of  silly  women,  but 
useless,  if  not  pernicious,  to  the  govern- 
ment of  his  own  country,  in  creating 
doubts  and  dislikes  by  way  of  a  partial 
comparison. 

Yet  since  it  advanceth  opinion  in  the 
world,  without  which  desert  is  useful  to 
none  but  itself  (scholars  and  travellers 
being  cried  up  for  the  highest  graduates  in 
the  most  universal  judgments),  I  am  not 
much  unwilling  to  give  way  to  peregrine 
motion  for  a  time ;  provided  it  be  in  com- 
pany of  an  ambassador,  or  person  of  qual- 
ity ;  by  whose   power  the  danger  may  be 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

rebated,  no  less  than  your  charge  of  diet 
defrayed ;  inconsiderable  in  such  a  retinue 
as  persons  of  their  magnitude  are  forced 
to  entertain. 

Or  if  your  genius,  tempted  by  profit, 
incline  to  the  life  of  a  merchant,  you  have 
the  law  of  nations,  and  articles  of  a  recip- 
rocal amity,  to  protect  you  from  other  in- 
conveniences, than  such  as  indiscretion 
draws  upon  rash  and   unadvised  strangers. 

Now  if  it  be  your  fortune,  on  any  such 
like  accounts  to  leave  your  native  country, 
take  these  directions  from  a  father,  wearied, 
and  therefore  possibly  made  wiser,  by  ex- 
perience. 

Let  not  the  irreligion  of  any  place  breed 
in  you  a  neglect  of  divine  duties  ;  remem- 
bering God  heard  the  prayers  of  Daniel  in 
Babylon,  with  the  same  attention  he  gave 
to  David  in  Sion. 

Shun    all  disputes,  but  concerning  re- 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

ligion  especially  ;  because  that  which  com- 
mands in  chief,  though  false  and  erron- 
eous, will,  like  a  cock  on  his  own  dung- 
hill, line  her  arguments  with  force,  and 
drive  the  stranger  out  of  the  pit  with  in- 
significant clamours.  All  opinions,  not 
made  natural  by  complexion,  or  imperious 
education,  being  equally  ridiculous  to  those 
of  contrary  tenets. 

Though  it  may  suit  no  less  with  your 
years,  than  mine  that  advise  you,  to  follow 
such  fashions  in  apparel,  as  are  in  use  as 
well  at  home  as  abroad,  those  being  least 
gazed  on  that  go  as  most  men  do ;  yet  it 
cannot  be  justified  before  the  face  of  dis- 
cretion, or  the  charity  due  to  your  own 
countrymen,  to  esteem  no  doublet  well 
made,  nor  glove  worth  wearing,  that  hath 
not  passed  the  hands  of  a  French  tailor, 
or  retains  not  the  scent  of  a  Spanish  per- 
fumer.     A  vanity  found  incident  to  Eng- 

[80] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

land,  and  the  people  our  ordinary  account 
reckons  east  of  us  ;  a  strong  presumption, 
the  last  arrived  within  the  pale  of  civility, 
else  they  would  be  more  confident  of  their 
own  inventions,  had  they  not  still  fresh  in 
memory,  from  whence  they  derived  the 
arts  of  building,  clothing,  behaviour,  etc. 
A  fancy,  though  foolish,  yet  easier  excused, 
did  it  not  ascend  to  the  more  rare  and  use- 
ful endowments  of  the  mind,  so  far  as  to 
put  a  miraculous  estimation  upon  the 
writings  of  strangers,  and  a  base  alloy  on 
better  of  their  own. 

So  he  that  beyond  sea  frequents  his  own 
countrymen,  forgets  the  principal  part  of 
his  errand,  language  ;  and  possibly  the  op- 
portunity to  get  experience  how  to  manage 
his  expense  ;  frugality  being  of  none  so 
perfectly  learned,  as  of  the  Italian  and 
Scot ;  natural  to  the  first,  and  as  necessary 
to  the  latter.     The  English   also   are  ob- 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

served  abroad  more  quarrelsome  with  their 
own  nation  than  strangers,  and  therefore 
marked  out  as  the  most  dangerous 
companions. 

An  injury  in  foreign  air  is  cheaper 
passed  over  than  revenged,  the  endeavour 
of  which  hath,  not  seldom,  drawn  on  a 
greater. 

Play  is  destructive  and  fatal  to  estates 
everywhere,  but  to  the  persons  of  game- 
sters abroad,  rendering  them  the  objects 
of  cheating  and  quarrels ;  all  bystanders 
being  apt  to  attest  to  the  prejudice  of  a 
stranger. 

Where  you  never  mean  to  return,  ex- 
tend your  liberality  at  the  first  coming,  as 
you  see  convenient,  during  your  abodes ; 
for  what  you  give  at  parting  is  quite  lost. 

Make  no  ostentation  of  carrying  any 
considerable  sum  of  money  about  you ; 
lest    you  turn    that  to    your    destruction, 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

which  under  God  is  a  stranger's  best 
preservation  :  and  remove  not  from  place 
to  place,  but  with  company  you  know : 
the  not  observing  whereof  is  the  cause  of 
so  many  of  our  countrymen's  graves  never 
being  known,  having  been  buried  in  as 
much  obscurity  as  killed. 

Inns  are  dangerous,  and  so  are  all  fresh 
acquaintance,  especially  where  you  find 
their  offer  of  friendship  to  outbid  a  stranger's 
desert :  the  same  may  be  said  of  servants  ; 
not  to  be  entertained  upon  ordinary  com- 
mendations. 

Next  to  experience,  languages  are  the 
richest  lading  of  a  traveller  ;  among  which 
French  is  most  useful,  Italian  and  Spanish 
not  being  so  fruitful  in  learning  (except 
for  the  mathematics  and  romances),  their 
other  books  being  mutilated  by  the  Fathers 
of  the  Inquisition. 

Government. — Contract  not  the  com- 

[83] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

mon  distemper,  incident  to  vulgar  brains, 
who  still  imagine  more  ease  from  some 
untried  government,  than  that  they  lie 
under;  not  having  passed  the  first  form 
of  experience,  where  we  may  learn,  that 
tyranny  is  natural  to  power. 

If  happy  for  the  present,  it  is  no  better 
than  madness  to  endeavour  a  change  ;  if 
but  indifferently  well,  folly  :  for  though  a 
vessel  may  yield  the  more  for  tilting  or 
stirring,  it  renders  all  in  it  unpleasant  to 
the  present  use  :  the  die  of  war  seldom 
turning  to  their  advantage,  that  first  cast 
it ;  such  therefore  as  cannot  make  all  well, 
discharge  their  conscience  in  wishing  it 
so ;  government  being  the  care  of  provi- 
dence, not  mine.  But  if  it  be  your  for- 
tune to  fall  under  such  commotions,  imi- 
tate not  the  wild  Irish  or  Welsh,  who 
during  the  eclipses,  run  about  beating  ket- 
tles and  pans,  thinking  their  clamour  and 

[84] 


PRACIICAL    WISDOM 

vexations  available  to  the  assistance  of  the 
higher  orbs,  though  they  advance  nothing 
but  their  own  miseries,  being  often 
maimed,  but  at  best  laid  by,  without 
respect  or  reward,  so  soon  as  the  state  is 
returned  to  its  former  splendour  :  common 
soldiers  resembling  cocks,  that  fight  for 
the  benefit  and  ambition  of  others,  more 
than  their  own  :  this  proves  it  the  whole- 
somer  counsel,  to  stay  within  doors,  and 
avoid  such  malignant  effects,  as  people  at- 
tribute to  the  supposed  distempers  of  the 
superior  planets.  But  if  forced  to  take  a 
stream,  let  it  be  that  which  leads  to  the 
desires  of  the  metropolis,  the  chief  city 
being  for  the  most  part  preserved,  who 
ever  prevails  in  a  civil  commotion,  abound- 
ing in  money  and  friends,  the  readiest 
commodities  to  purchase  quiet. 

Be  not  the  pen  or  mouth  of  a  multitude 
congregated  by  the  jingling  of  their  fetters  ; 

[85] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

lest  a  pardon  or  a  compliance  knock  them 
off,  and  leave  you,  as  the  soul  of  that  de- 
formed body,  hanging  in  the  hell  of  the 
law,  or  to  the  vengeance  of  an  exasperated 
power;  but  rather  have  patience  and  see 
the  tree  sufficiently  shaken,  before  you  run 
to  scramble  for  the  fruit ;  lest  instead  of 
profit  and  honour,  you  meet  with  a  cudgel 
or  a  stone  ;  and  then,  if  possible,  seem  to 
fall  in  rather  out  of  compulsion,  than  de- 
sign ;  since  the  zeal  of  the  rabble  is  not 
so  soon  heated  by  the  real  oppressions  of 
their  rulers,  but  may  be  easily  cooled  by 
the  specious  promises  and  breath  of  au- 
thority. Wherefore  nurse  not  ambition 
with  your  own  blood,  nor  think  the  wind 
of  honour  strong  enough  to  blow  away 
the  reproachful  sense  of  a  shameful,  if 
possibly  that  of  a  violent  death ;  for  if 
Solomon's  rule  be  true,  that  a  living  dog 
is  better  than  a  dead  lion,  a  quick  evasion 

[86] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

cannot  but  be  deemed  more  man-like  than  a 
buried  valour. 

A  multitude  inflamed  under  a  religious 
pretence,  are  at  first  as  unsafely  opposed, 
as  joined  with  j  resembling  bears  exasper- 
ated by  the  cry  of  their  whelps,  and  do 
not  seldom,  if  unextinguished  by  hope  or 
delays,  consume  all  before  them,  to  the 
very  thing  they  intend  to  preserve:  zeal, 
like  the  rod  of  Moses,  devouring  all  for 
diabolical,  that  dares  but  appear  before  it 
in  the  same  shape  :  the  inconsiderate  rab- 
ble, with  the  swine  in  the  gospel,  being 
more  furiously  agitated  by  the  discontented 
spirits  of  others,  than  their  own ;  who 
cannot  be  so  happy  in  a  sea  of  blood  and 
devastation,  the  dire  effects  of  war,  as  in 
peace,  though  invaded  with  some  oppres- 
sion ;  a  scab  that  breaks  out  oftentimes  in 
the  most  wholesome  constituted  bodies  of 
states,  and    may  with    less  smart   be  con- 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

tinued  on,  than  picked  off.  And  because 
the  generality  are  incapable,  in  regard  of 
number,  either  of  reward,  or  punishment, 
therefore  not  of  use  to  the  ambition  or 
safety  of  others,  but  for  the  present,  like 
gun-powder  during  the  flash  of  their  dis- 
content, and  as  a  lock  in  a  river,  are  only 
of  force  upon  the  first  opening  to  drive  on 
the  design  of  innovation ;  losing  them- 
selves afterwards  in  a  more  universal 
dilatation,  either  out  of  weariness,  or  doubt 
of  the  consequence. 

The  example  of  Brutus,  rather  than 
Cato,  is  to  be  followed  in  bad  times ;  it 
being  safer  to  be  patient,  than  active ;  or 
appear  a  fool,  than  a  malcontent ;  an 
evasion  not  only  justified  in  the  person  of 
David,  and  by  the  eloquence  of  Paul  be- 
fore his  heathen  judges,  but  our  Saviour 
Himself  is  not  heard  to  inveigh  against 
the   present    power,  though   it    made    the 

[88] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

head  of  the  Baptist  the  frolic  to  a  feast. 
Own  the  power,  but  not  the  fault  of 
the  magistrate :  nor  make  law,  assigned 
for  a  buckler  to  defend  yourself,  a  sword 
to  hurt  others  ;  lest  partiality  should  allure 
you  to  pass  the  sentence  of  approbation 
upon  any  thing  unwarrantable  in  its  own 
nature.  Neither  let  any  formalities  used 
at  a  mimical  tribunal  (as  that  was,  set  up 
in  the  case  of  Naboth)  persuade  you  to 
more  than  a  passive  compliance :  since 
such  may  seem  to  make  greater,  rather 
than  diminish  the  wages  of  their  iniquity, 
that  seek  to  cover  rapine  with  a  gown ; 
which  the  sword  might  patronise  with 
more  decency :  and  this  observed,  the 
people  might  cheaper  receive  all  their  in- 
jury at  the  first  hand,  which  these  retailers 
of  wickedness  utter  at  more  intolerable 
rates :  the  result  of  all  is,  Ahab  might 
better  have  committed  murder  single,  than 

[89] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

render     so     many     accessory,    under    the 
formal  pretence  of  a  religious  fast,  etc. 

Before  you  fix,  consult  all  the  objections 
discretion  is  able  to  make  ;  but  once  re- 
solved desert  not  your  party  upon  access 
of  a  fever,  as  many  melancholy  spirits  did 
these  wars  ;  who,  by  their  often  and  un- 
seasonable flittings,  wore  themselves  so 
out  on  both  sides,  as  they  were  not  worth 
owning,  when  success  undertook  for  them, 
that  they  did  turn  in  earnest :  irresolution 
rendering  pardon  more  difficult  from  either 
faction,  than  it  could  have  proved,  had 
they  remained  constant  to  any  :  divesting 
themselves  of  the  ensigns  of  fidelity,  looked 
upon  by  all  with  the  eyes  of  pity,  and 
which  often  meet  with  honour,  seldom 
fail  of  forgiveness,  from  a  noble  enemy, 
who  cannot  but  befriend  virtue,  though  he 
hath  found  it  in  arms  against  him.  Yet 
if   you   perceive  the   post  you  have  con- 

[90] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

tracted,  to  totter,  through  undermining 
treachery  or  weakness,  you  may  purchase 
your  preservation  by  all  honest  endeavors  ; 
for  he  that  prolongs  his  life  by  the  for- 
feiture of  a  trust  he  has  undertaken,  hus- 
bands it  worse  than  if  he  buried  it  in  the 
field  of  honour,  traitors  in  all  ages  being 
equally  detested  on  both  sides. 

Think  it  no  disparagement  to  your  birth 
or  discretion  to  give  honour  to  fresh  fam- 
ilies, who  cannot  be  denied  to  have  as- 
cended by  the  same  steps  those  did  we 
style  ancient,  new  being  a  term  only 
respecting  us,  not  the  world ;  for  what  is 
was  before  us,  and  will  be  when  we  are  no 
more  :  war  follows  peace,  and  peace  war, 
as  summer  doth  winter,  and  foul  weather 
fair :  neither  are  any  ground  more  in  this 
mill  of  vicissitudes,  than  such  obstinate 
fools  as  glory  in  the  repute  of  state-mar- 
tyrs after  they  are  dead,  which  concerns 

[91] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

them  less  than  what  was  said  one  hundred 
years  before  they  were  born,  it  being  the 
greatest  odds  their  names  shall  not  be 
registered,  or  if  they  be,  after  death,  they 
are  no  more  sensible  of  the  honour,  than 
Alexander's  great  horse,  or  any  beast  else, 
his  master's  indulgence  or  the  writer's  are 
pleased  to  record.  Neither,  in  a  strict 
sense,  do  they  deserve  such  honour  for 
being  able  to  date  their  possessions  from 
before  the  Conquest,  since,  if  any  be  due, 
it  wholly  belongs  to  them  that  were  buried 
in  the  ruins  of  their  country's  liberty,  and 
not  to  such  as  helped  to  make  their  graves, 
as  in  all  likelihood  most  did  whom  the 
Normans  suffered  to  remain.  Therefore, 
it  is  madness  to  place  our  felicity  out  of 
our  own  reach,  or  to  measure  honour  or 
repute  by  any  other  standard  than  the 
opinion  we  conceive  of  it  ourselves,  it 
being  impossible  to  find  a  general   agree- 

[92] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

ment  in  any  good  or  evil  report,  the  reign 
of  Queen  Elizabeth  being  no  less  traduced, 
than  that  of  Richard  the  Third  is  justified. 

Be  not,  therefore,  liquorish  after  fame, 
found  by  experience  to  carry  a  trumpet, 
that  doth  for  the  most  part  congregate 
more  enemies  than  friends. 

If  you  duly  consider  the  inconstancy  of 
common  applause,  and  how  many  have 
had  their  fame  broken  upon  the  same 
wheel  that  raised  it,  and  puffed  out  by 
their  breath  that  kindled  the  first  report  of 
it,  you  would  be  as  little  elevated  with  the 
smiles  as  dejected  by  the  frowns  of  this 
gaudy  goddess,  formed,  like  Venus,  out  of 
no  more  solid  matter  than  the  foam  of  the 
people,  found  by  experience  to  have  pois- 
oned more  than  ever  she  cured  ;  being  so 
volatile,  as  she  is  unable  of  fixation  in  the 
richest  jewels  of  nature,  virtue,  or  grace; 
the  composition  of  that  body  wholly  con- 

[93] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

sisting  of  contradictions,  no  readier  to  set 
up  this  day,  than  she  may  be  to  pull  down 
the  next :  this  renders  it  the  lowest  puer- 
ility to  be  pleased  or  angry  at  reports, 
good  being  inflamed,  and  evil  quenched, 
by  nothing  sooner  than  a  constant  neglect. 

Despise  none  for  meanness  of  blood, 
yet  do  not  ordinarily  make  them  your 
companions,  for  debasing  your  own,  unless 
you  find  them  clarified  by  excellent  parts, 
or  gilded  by  fortune  or  power — Solomon 
having  sent  the  sluggard  to  the  ant  to  learn 
industry,  and  to  the  living  dog  rather  than 
the  dead  lion  for  protection. 

Grant,  if  ever,  a  courtesy  at  first  asking, 
for  as  expedition  doubles  a  benefit,  so 
delay  converts  it  into  little  less  than  an 
injury,  and  robs  you  of  the  thanks  ;  the 
fate  of  churlish  natures ;  whereas  some  I 
have  known  able  to  apparel  their  refusals 
in  such  soft  robes  of  courtship,  that  it  was 

[94] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

not  easy  to  be  discerned  whether  the  re- 
quest or  denial  were  most  decent. 

Do  not  hackney  out  your  promise  to 
the  full  stage  of  desire,  lest,  tiring  in  per- 
formance, and  becoming  a  bankrupt  in 
power,  you  forfeit  repute,  and  purchase 
certain  enemies  for  uncertain  friends.  Yet 
when  the  suffrages  of  many,  in  relation  to 
your  particular  profit,  are  to  be  purchased, 
wise  men's  practice  hath  proved  it  no  in- 
discretion to  be  lavish  in  this  kind  ;  where 
the  dishonour  of  non-performance  with 
others  is  quite  buried  in  the  greater  benefit 
accruing  to  yourself,  it  being  as  ordinary 
for  hope  to  exceed  modesty  in  asking,  as  an 
engaged  power  comes  short  of  the  ability, 
if  not  the  will,  to  perform  :  therefore,  in 
this  case,  you  must  supply  with  thanks 
what  you  are  not  able  to  do  in  effect. 

Be  not  nice  in  assisting,  with  the  ad- 
vantages nature  or  art  may  have  given  you, 

[95] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

such  as  want  them,  who  do  not  seldom  in 
exchange  part  with  those  of  fortune  to 
such  as  can  manage  their  advice  well,  as 
they  only  do  that  never  give  counsel  till 
called,  nor  continue  it  longer  than  they 
find  it  acceptable. 

If  one  in  power  ask  your  advice  in  a 
business  of  consequence,  it  may  appear 
rashness,  if  not  folly,  to  answer  suddenly 
upon  the  place,  it  not  being  impossible 
but  that  the  design  of  his  question  may  as 
well  be  to  try  your  sufficiency,  as  to 
strengthen  his  own.  However,  so  much 
time  as  may  be  borrowed  with  safety  from 
the  emergency  of  any  occasion,  is  likelier 
to  increase  than  abate  the  weight  of  a  re- 
sult, and  in  this  interim  you  may  gain 
leisure  to  discover  what  resolution  suits 
best  the  mind  of  the  party,  who  is  com- 
monly gratified  most  by  such  as  comply 
nearest  with  his   own  judgment,  which   it 

[96] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

is  ever  wisdom  to  observe,  where  all  the 
counsels  given  are  indifferent.  Nor  will 
it  savour  of  so  much  respect  to  his  person, 
or  care  of  his  affairs,  to  determine  extem- 
pore, as  upon  premeditation,  it  being  the 
custom  of  great  ones  to  value  things,  not 
proportionable  to  their  worth,  but  the 
sweat  and  time  they  cost. 

It  is  not  safe  for  a  secretary  to  mend 
the  copy  his  master  hath  set  him,  unless 
owned  as  from  his  former  inspirations,  lest 
he  should  grow  jealous  that  you  valued 
your  conceptions  before  his,  who  measures 
his  sufficiency  by  the  altitude  of  his  em- 
ployment, not  the  depths  of  his  natural 
parts.  This  made  the  Lord  Chancellor 
Egerton  the  willinger  to  exchange  incom- 
parable Doctor  D.  for  the  less  sufficient, 
though  in  this  more  modest,  Mr.  T.  B. 

But  in  case  his  affairs  be  wholly  left  to 
your  management,  you  must  not  only  look 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

to  correspond  for  his  miscarriages,  but  as 
obstinately  renounce  any  honour  that  may 
be  given  you  to  his  prejudice,  imputing  all 
to  his  single  sufficiency,  yourself  owning 
no  higher  place  than  that  of  the  execu- 
tioner of  his  commands  ;  for  though  many 
great  men,  like  properties  or  puppets,  are 
managed  by  their  servants,  yet  such  are 
most  dear  to  them,  as  can  so  carry  their 
hand  in  their  actings,  that  they  make  them 
appear  less  fools  than  in  truth  they  are — 
easily  done,  by  giving  them  the  honour  to 
concede  or  deny  in  public,  without  inter- 
posing any  other  arguments  against  it  than 
may  become  the  mouth  of  a  servant,  how- 
ever you  may  order  him  in  private. 

Court  him  always  you  hope  one  day  to 
make  use  of,  but  at  the  least  expense  you 
can,  observing  the  condition  of  men  in 
power,  to  esteem  better  of  such  as  they  have 
done  courtesies  for,  than  those  they  have 

[98] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

received  greater  from,  looking  upon  this  as 
a  shame,  upon  the  other  as  an  honour. 

Though  I  hope  I  have  now  reason  to 
be  confident  you  w\\\  accomplish  the  pre- 
sage, divers  long  since  made  of  your  future 
sufficiency  ;  yet  I  should  advise  not  to  ex- 
tend it  to  any  public  demonstration  beyond 
the  limits  of  your  own  profession — since 
the  study  of  the  law  being  esteemed  by  all 
a  full  employment  for  a  whole  man,  if 
you  should  make  a  considerable  digression 
into  another  calling,  it  might  occasion  a 
jealousy  in  your  clients  you  had  neglected 
your  own.  The  several  books  incompar- 
able Bacon  was  known  to  read,  besides 
those  relating  to  the  law,  were  objected  to 
him  as  an  argument  of  his  insufficiency  to 
manage  the  place  of  solicitor-general,  and 
may  lie  as  a  rub  in  all  their  ways  that 
shall,  out  of  vain  glory  to  manifest  a  gen- 
eral knowledge,  neglect  this  caution. 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

Avoid  in  your  pleadings  such  unneces- 
sary digressions  as  some  of  the  long-robe 
do  ordinarily  make  from  the  merit  of  the 
cause  to  the  defamation  of  the  contrary 
party;  a  quicksand  wherein  Coke,  that 
leviathan  of  the  law,  mired  his  repute : 
nor  could  he  divest  this  vanity  after  he 
was  made  a  judge  :  from  which  height  it 
cast  him  to  the  hazard  of  his  neck,  had 
not  the  soft  nature  of  King  James  broke 
his  fall.  Nor  doth  the  antiquity  of  it 
plead  a  better  excuse,  than  that  he  retained 
the  effeminate  and  weaker  part,  leaving 
the  Roman  elegancy  unimitated. 

At  a  conference,  to  speak  last  is  no 
small  advantage,  as  Mr.  John  Hampden 
wisely  observed,  who  made  himself  still 
the  goal-keeper  of  his  party,  giving  his 
opposite  leisure  to  lose  their  reasons  in  the 
loud  and  less  significant  tempest,  com- 
monly   arising    upon    a    first    debate ;    in 

[  loo] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

which,  if  he  found  his  side  worsted,  he  had 
the  dexterous  sagacity  to  mount  the  argu- 
ment above  the  heads  of  the  major  part, 
whose  single  reason  did  not  seldom  make 
the  whole  parliament  so  far  suspicious  of 
their  own,  as  to  approve  his,  or  at  least 
give  time  for  another  debate,  by  which  he 
had  the  opportunity  to  muster  up  more 
forces  ;  thus,  by  confounding  the  weaker, 
and  tiring  out  the  acuter  judgments,  he 
seldom  failed  to  attain  his  ends. 

If  you  be  to  vote  in  any  public  assem- 
bly, avoid  as  much  as  you  may,  giving 
concession  under  your  hand  to  any  private 
man's  written  opinions ;  for  you  cannot, 
without  experiment,  believe  how  much 
your  own  judgment  will  be  altered,  and 
how  crude  your  former  reasons  will  appear 
to  yourself,  after  they  are  ruminated  and 
digested  by  debate. 

Having  since  these  wars  been   admitted 

[lOl] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

to  councils,  where  many  of  no  great  ca- 
pacity have  assisted,  I  never  knew  any 
thing  come  so  exactly  framed  out  of  one 
man's  sense,  that  did  not  receive  a  palpa- 
ble amendment  from  the  debates  of  some- 
times much  inferior  judgments.  Nay,  I 
have  known  some  that  have  had  the  for- 
tune to  start  the  idea,  which,  when  it 
hath  been  presented  to  them  again  in  a 
perfect  result,  have  not  been  able  to  see 
the  bottom  of  the  wisdom  of  it,  without 
much  difficulty  and  admiration  :  neither  is 
this  miraculous,  but  natural ;  for  the  ful- 
ler, dyer,  weaver,  etc.,  understand  not 
each  other's  trades,  yet  between  them  all  a 
good  piece  of  cloth  is  made. 

Before  I  came  to  have  leisure  to  observe 
them,  I  thought  princes  and  ministers  of 
state  somethino;  above  human — not  hear- 
ing  a  word  fall  from  them  upon  which  I 
did    not    put   a   politic    construction ;   but 

[  I02  ] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

growing  more  familiar  with  them,  I  found 
their  discourses  mingled  with  the  same 
follies  ours  are,  and  their  domestical 
affairs  carried  on  with  as  little,  if  not 
less  discretion  sometimes  than  ordinary 
men's. 

He  that  seeks  perfection  on  earth  leaves 
nothing  new  for  the  saints  to  find  in 
heaven  ;  for  whilst  men  teach,  there  will 
be  mistakes  in  divinity ;  and  as  long  as  no 
other  govern,  errors  in  the  state  :  there- 
fore be  not  liquorish  after  change,  lest  you 
muddy  your  present  felicity  with  a  future 
greater,  and  more  sharp  inconvenience. 

Religion. — Read  the  book  of  God 
with  reverence,  and  in  things  doubtful 
take  fixation  from  the  authority  of  the 
church,  which  cannot  be  arraigned  of  a 
damnable  error,  without  questioning  that 
truth,  which  hath  proclaimed  her  proof 
against  the  gates  of  hell.      This  makes  me 

[  i°3  ] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

wish  that  our  Samsons  in  success,  who 
have  stripped  her  of  her  ornaments  (riches, 
powers  and  honours,  which  the  ancient 
piety  left  her  to  cover  her  nakedness 
withal),  and  given  them  to  vain  expounders 
of  riddles,  may  not  one  day  have  cause  to 
repent,  when  they  find  themselves  an- 
noyed, no  less  than  the  eyes  of  truth  put 
out  by  the  dust  and  rubbish  the  fall  of  so 
great  and  antique  a  frame  is  likely  to 
make.  Therefore  be  content  to  see  your 
judgment  wade  rather  than  swim  in  the 
sense  or  the  scriptures,  because  our  deep 
plungers  have  been  observed  to  bring  up 
sandy  assertions,  and  their  heads  wrapt 
about  with  the  venomous  weeds  of  error 
and  schism,  which  may  for  the  present 
discountenance  the  endeavours  of  modester 
learning,  yet  will,  no  doubt,  sink  and  van- 
ish, after  some  time  and  experience  had  of 
their  frequent   mistakes,   as   those   of  our 

[104] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

bold  expositors  of  the  Revelation  have 
most  shamefully  done. 

Despise  not  a  profession  of  holiness, 
because  it  may  be  true ;  but  have  a  care 
how  you  trust  it,  for  fear  it  should  be  false  : 
the  coat  of  Christ  being  more  in  fashion 
than  in  practice,  many  pulpit-men,  like 
physicians,  forbidding  their  patients  that 
you  may  ordinarily  find  on  their  own 
trenchers. 

I  can  approve  of  none  for  magisterial 
divinity,  but  that  which  is  found  floating 
in  the  unquestioned  sense  of  the  scriptures  ; 
therefore,  when  cast  upon  a  place  that 
seems  equally  inclined  to  different  opinions, 
I  would  advise  to  count  it  as  bowlers  do 
for  dead  to  the  present  understanding,  and 
not  to  torture  the  text  by  measuring  every 
nicety,  but  rather  turn  to  one  more  plain, 
referring  to  that  all  disputes,  without 
knocking  one  hard   place  against  another, 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

as  they  have  done  since  this  iron  age,  till 
an  unquenchable  fire  of  contention  is 
kindled,  and  so  many  jarring  and  uncertain 
sounds  of  religion  heard,  as  men  stand 
amazed,  not  knowing  which  to  follow — all 
pretending  to  be  in  the  right,  as  if  it  were 
possible  for  truth  to  contradict  herself. 

And  yet  it  was  no  unhappy  rencontre 
in  him  that  said, '  a  good  religion  might  be 
composed  out  of  the  Papists'  "  charity," 
the  Puritans'  "  words,"  and  the  Protestants' 
"  faith."  '  For  where  works  are  thought 
too  chargeable,  outward  profession  too 
cumbersome,  the  third  renders  itself  sus- 
pected ;  the  two  first  being  only  palpable 
to  sense  and  reason,  stand  firm  like  a  rock  ; 
whereas  the  other  shakes  under  the  weight 
of  every  fancy,  as  Peter  did  when  he 
walked  upon  the  sea  :  to  speak  English,  in 
good  works  none  can  be  deceived  but  the 
doer,  in   valuing  them    too    high ;   in  the 

[io6] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

two  latter,  all  but  God,  who  only  knows 
the  heart. 

Religions  do  not  naturally  differ  so  much 
in  themselves,  as  fiery  and  uncharitable 
men  pretend,  who  do  not  seldom  persecute 
those  of  their  own  creed,  because  they 
profess  it  in  other  terms.  Then  do  not 
only  ask  thy  conscience  what  is  truth  ? 
but  give  her  full  leisure  to  resolve  thee ; 
for  he  that  goes  out  of  the  way  with  her 
consent,  is  likelier  to  find  rest,  than  he 
that  plods  on  without  taking  her  directions. 

Therefore  do  nothing  against  the  coun- 
sel of  this  guide,  though  she  is  observed  in 
the  world  to  render  her  owners  obnoxious 
to  the  injury  and  deceit  of  all  that  con- 
verse without  her ;  nothing  being  more 
hard  and  chargeable  to  keep  than  a  good 
conscience. 

Let  no  seeming  opportunity  prevail  so 
far   upon   your  curiosity,  as  to  entice  you 

[  ^°7  ] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

to  an  inspection  into  your  future  fortune, 
since  such  inquisitiveness  was  never  an- 
swered with  good  success  ;  the  world,  like 
a  lottery,  affording  multitudes  of  crosses 
for  one  prize,  which  reduced  all  into  a 
sum,  must,  by  a  necessary  consequence, 
render  the  remainder  of  life  tedious,  in  re- 
moving present  felicities,  to  make  room 
for  the  contemplations  of  future  miseries. 

Do  not  pre-engage  hope  or  fear  by  a 
tedious  expectation,  which  may  lessen  the 
pleasure  of  the  first,  yet  cannot  but  ag- 
gravate the  weight  of  the  latter,  whose 
arrival  is  commonly  with  a  less  train  of 
inconveniences,  than  this  harbinger  strives 
to  take  up  room  for;  evil  fortune  being 
no  less  inconstant  than  good :  therefore 
render  not  thyself  giddy,  by  poring  on 
despair,  nor  wanton  with  the  contempla- 
tion of  hope. 

Stamp  not  the  impress  of  a  divine  ven- 

[io8] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

geance  upon  the  death  or  misfortunes  of 
others,  though  never  so  prodigious,  for 
fear  of  penning  a  satire  against  yourself, 
in  case  you  should  fall  under  the  same 
chance  :  many  things  being  taken  up  as 
dropped  out  of  an  immediate  celestial 
hand,  that  fell  from  no  higher  pitch  than 
where  God  in  his  providence  hath  placed 
such  events,  as  wait  upon  all  times  and 
occasions,  which  prayers  and  prudence  are 
not  able  always  to  shroud  you  from  ;  since 
upon  a  strict  inquiry,  it  may  appear,  that 
in  relation  to  this  world,  the  godly  have  as 
little  cause  to  brag,  as  the  wicked  to 
complain. 

Conclusion. — Bear  always  a  filial  rev- 
erence to  your  dear  mother,  and  let  not 
her  old  age,  if  she  attain  it,  seem  tedious 
unto  you  ;  since  the  little  she  may  keep 
from  you,  will  be  abundantly  recompensed, 
not  only  by  the  prayers,  and  by  the  tender 

[  i°9] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

care  she  hath,  and  ever  will  have  of  you ; 
therefore  in  case  of  my  death  (which 
weariness  of  this  world  will  not  suffer  me 
to  adjourn,  so  much  as  by  a  wish),  do  not 
proportion  your  respect  by  the  mode  of 
other  sons,  but  to  the  greatness  of  her 
desert,  beyond  requital  in  relation  to  us 
both. 

Continue  in  love  and  amity  with  your 
sister,  and  in  case  of  need,  help  her  what 
you  are  able ;  remembering,  you  are  of  a 
piece,  and  hers  and  yours  differ  but  in 
name ;  which  I  presume,  upon  want  of 
issue,  will  not  be  denied  to  be  imposed  on 
any  child  of  hers,  you  shall  desire  to  take 
for  your  own. 

Let  no  time  expunge  his  memory  that 
gave  you  the  first  tincture  of  erudition  ;  to 
which  he  was  more  invited  by  love  than 
profit,  no  less  than  his  incomparable  wife  : 
therefore  if  God  make  able,  requite  them. 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

and  in  the  meanwhile  register  their  names 
among  those  you  stand  most  obliged  to. 

What  you  leave  at  your  death,  let  it  be 
without  controversy  ;  else  the  lawyers  will 
be  your  heirs. 

Be  not  solicitous  after  pomp  at  my 
burial,  nor  use  any  expensive  funeral  cere- 
mony ;  by  which  mourners,  like  crows, 
devour  the  living  under  pretence  of  hon- 
ouring a  dead  carcase  :  neither  can  I  ap- 
prehend a  tombstone  to  add  so  great  a 
weight  of  glory  to  the  dead,  as  it  doth  of 
charge  and  trouble  to  the  living ;  none 
being  so  impertinent  wasters,  in  my  opin- 
ion, as  those  that  build  houses  for  the 
dead  :  he  that  lies  under  the  hearse  of 
heaven  is  convertible  into  sweet  herbs  and 
flowers,  that  may  rest  in  such  bosoms,  as 
would  shriek  at  the  ugly  bugs,  that  may 
possibly  be  found  crawling  in  the  magnifi- 
cent tomb  of  Henry  the  Seventh  ;   which 

[ill] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

also  hinders  the  variety  of  such  contingent 
resurrections  as  unarched  bodies  enjoy, 
without  giving  interruption  to  that,  which 
He  that  will  not  again  die,  hath  promised 
to  such  as  love  Him  and  expect  His  ap- 
pearing. Besides,  that  man  were  better 
forgotten,  who  hath  nothing  of  greater 
moment  to  register  his  name  by  than  a 
grave. 

Neither  can  I  apprehend  such  horror  in 
death,  as  some  do  that  render  their  lives 
miserable  to  avoid  it,  meeting  it  oftentimes 
by  the  same  way  they  take  to  shun  it. 
Death,  if  he  may  be  guessed  at  by  his 
elder  brother  sleep  (born  before  he  was 
thought  on,  and  fell  upon  Adam  ere  he 
fell  from  his  Maker),  cannot  be  so  terrible 
a  messenger,  being  not  without  much 
ease,  if  not  some  voluptuousness.  Be- 
sides nothing  in  this  world  is  worth  com- 
ing  from   the   house-top  to  fetch  it,  much 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

less  from  the  deep  grave;  furnished  with 
all  things,  because  empty  of  desires. 

And  concerning  a  future  account,  I  find 
the  bill  to  swell  rather  than  shrink,  by 
continuance ;  or  if  a  stronger  propensity 
to  religion  resides  in  age,  than  youth 
(which  I  wish  I  had  no  cause  to  doubt  of), 
it  relates  more  to  the  temperature  of  the 
body,  than  an  improvement  of  the  mind  ; 
and  so  unworthy  of  any  other  reward, 
than  what  is  due  to  the  effects  of  human 
infirmities. 

To  conclude,  let  us  serve  God  with 
what  reverence  we  are  able,  and  do  all  the 
good  we  can,  making  as  little  unnecessary 
work  for  repentance  as  is  possible  :  and 
the  mercy  of  our  heavenly  Father  supply 
all  our  defects  in  the  Son  of  his  love. 
Amen. 


[-3] 


LORD  BURLEIGH'S  ADVICES 
TO  HIS  SON 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

LORD  BURLEIGH'S  ADVICES 

TO  HIS  SON 

^* 

SON  ROBERT,— The  virtuous  incli- 
nations of  thy  matchless  mother,  by 
whose  tender  and  godly  care  thy  infancy  was 
governed,  together  with  thy  education  under 
so  zealous  and  excellent  a  tutor,  put  me  in 
rather  assurance  than  hope,  that  thou  art  not 
ignorant  of  that  '  summum  bonum,'  which 
is  only  able  to  make  thee  happy  as  well  in 
thy  death  as  in  thy  life  ;  I  mean,  the  true 
knowledge  and  worship  of  thy  Creator 
and  Redeemer;  without  which,  all  other 
things  are  vain  and  miserable.  So  that 
thy  youth  being  guided  by  so  sufficient  a 
teacher,  I  make  no  doubt  that  he  will  fur- 
nish thy  life  with  divine  and  moral  docu- 
ments. Yet,  that  I  may  not  cast  ofF  the 
care  beseeming  a  parent  towards  his  child  ; 

["7] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

or  that  thou  shouldst  have  cause  to  derive 
thy  whole  felicity  and  welfare  rather  from 
others  than  from  whence  thou  receivedst 
thy  breath  and  being ;  I  think  it  fit  and 
agreeable  to  the  affection  I  bear  thee,  to 
help  thee  with  such  rules  and  advertise- 
ments for  the  squaring  of  thy  life,  as  are 
rather  gained  by  experience  than  by  much 
reading.  To  the  end,  that  entering  into 
this  exorbitant  age,  thou  mayest  be  the 
better  prepared  to  shun  those  scandalous 
courses  whereunto  the  world,  and  the  lack 
of  experience,  may  easily  draw  thee.  And 
because  I  will  not  confound  thy  memory, 
I  have  reduced  them  into  ten  precepts ; 
and,  next  unto  Moses'  Tables,  if  thou  im- 
print them  in  thy  mind,  thou  shalt  reap 
the  benefit,  and  I  the  content.  And  they 
are  these  following  : — 

I.   When   it    shall  please  God  to  bring 
thee  to  man's  estate,  use  great  providence 

[ii8] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

and  circumspection  in  choosing  thy  wife  : 
for  from  thence  will  spring  all  thy  future 
good  or  evil.     And  it  is  an  action  of  thy 
life,  liice  unto  a  stratagem  of  war  :  wherein 
a  man  can  err  but  once.      If  thy  estate  be 
good,  match  near  home  and   at  leisure  ;   if 
weak,  far  off  and  quickly.      Enquire  dili- 
gently of   her    disposition,   and    how  her 
parents  have  been   inclined  in  their  youth. 
Let  her  not  be   poor,  how  well-born   so- 
ever;  for  a  man   can   buy  nothing   in   the 
market  with  gentility.      Nor  choose  a  base 
and     uncomely     creature     altogether     for 
wealth ;    for    it    will    cause    contempt    m 
others  and  loathing  in  thee.      Neither  make 
choice  of  a  dwarf  or  a  fool ;   for  thou  shalt 
find  it  to  thy  great  grief,  that  there  is  noth- 
ing more  fulsome  than  a  she-fool. 

And  touching  the  guiding  of  thy  house, 
let  thy  hospitality  be  moderate  ;  and,  ac- 
cording to  the  means  of  thy  estate,  rather 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

plentiful  than  sparing,  but  not  costly.  For 
I  never  knew  any  man  grow  poor  by 
keeping  an  orderly  table.  But  some  con- 
sume themselves  through  secret  vices,  and 
their  hospitality  bears  the  blame.  But 
banish  swinish  drunkards  out  of  thine 
house,  which  is  a  vice  impairing  health, 
consuming  much,  and  makes  no  show.  I 
never  heard  praise  ascribed  to  the  drunk- 
ard, but  the  well-bearing  his  drink ;  which 
is  a  better  commendation  for  a  brewer's 
horse  or  a  drayman,  than  for  either  a  gen- 
tleman, or  a  serving-man.  Beware  thou 
spend  not  above  three  of  four  parts  of  thy 
revenues ;  nor  above  a  third  part  of  that 
in  thy  house.  For  the  other  two  parts 
will  do  no  more  than  defray  thy  extraor- 
dinaries,  which  always  surmount  the  ordin- 
ary by  much  :  otherwise  thou  shalt  live, 
like  a  rich  beggar,  in  continual  want.  And 
the  needy  man  can  never  live  happily  nor 

[120] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

contentedly  ;  for  every  disaster  makes  him 
ready  to  mortgage  or  sell.  And  that  gen- 
tleman who  sells  an  acre  of  land,  sells  an 
ounce  of  credit.  For  gentility  is  nothing 
else  but  ancient  riches.  So  that  if  the 
foundation  shall  at  any  time  sink,  the 
building  must  needs  follow.  So  much  for 
the  first  precept. 

II.  Bring  thy  children  up  in  learning 
and  obedience,  yet  without  outward  aus- 
terity. Praise  them  openly,  reprehend 
them  secretly.  Give  them  good  counte- 
nance, and  convenient  maintenance  ac- 
cording to  thy  ability  ;  otherwise  thy  life 
will  seem  their  bondage,  and  what  portion 
thou  shalt  leave  them  at  thy  death,  they 
will  thank  death  for  it,  and  not  thee.  And 
I  am  persuaded  that  the  foolish  cockerings 
of  some  parents,  and  the  overstern  carriage 
of  others,  causeth  more  men  and  women 
to  take  ill  courses,  than  their  own   vicious 

[121] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

inclinations.  Marry  thy  daughters  in 
time,  lest  they  marry  themselves.  And 
suffer  not  thy  sons  to  pass  the  Alps,  for 
they  shall  learn  nothing  there  but  pride, 
blasphemy,  and  atheism.  And  if  by  travel 
they  get  a  few  broken  languages,  that 
shall  profit  them  nothing  more  than  to 
have  one  meat  served  in  divers  dishes. 
Neither,  by  my  consent,  shalt  thou  train 
them  up  in  wars  ;  for  he  that  sets  up  his 
rest  to  live  by  that  profession,  can  hardly 
be  an  honest  man,  or  a  good  Christian. 
Besides  it  is  a  science  no  longer  in  request 
than  use.  For  soldiers  in  peace,  are  like 
chimneys  in  summer. 

III.  Live  not  in  the  country  without 
corn  and  cattle  about  thee.  For  he  that 
putteth  his  hand  to  the  purse  for  every 
expense  of  household  is  like  him  that  keep- 
eth  water  in  a  sieve.  And  what  provision 
thou  shalt  want,  learn  to  buy  it  at  the  best 

[  122] 


PRAC1ICAL    WISDOM 

hand.  For  there  is  one  penny  saved  in 
four,  betwixt  buying  in  thy  need,  and  when 
the  markets  and  seasons  serve  fittest  for  it. 
Be  not  served  with  kinsmen,  or  friends,  or 
men  entreated  to  stay ;  for  they  expect 
much,  and  do  little  ;  nor  with  such  as  are 
amorous,  for  their  heads  are  intoxicated. 
And  keep  rather  two  too  few,  than  one  too 
many.  Feed  them  well,  and  pay  them 
the  most ;  and  then  thou  mayest  boldly 
require  service  at  their  hands. 

IV.  Let  thy  kindred  and  allies  be  wel- 
come to  thy  house  and  table.  Grace  them 
with  thy  countenance,  and  farther  them  in 
all  honest  actions.  For  by  this  means, 
thou  shalt  so  double  the  band  of  nature,  as 
thou  shalt  find  them  so  many  advocates  to 
plead  an  apology  for  thee  behind  thy  back. 
But  shake  off  those  glow-worms,  I  mean 
parasites  and  sycophants,  who  will  feed 
and    fawn    upon  thee  in  the    summer   of 

[  ^23] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

prosperity  ;  but,  in  an  adverse  storm,  they 
will  shelter  thee  no  more  than  an  arbour 
in  winter. 

V.  Beware  of  suretyship  for  thy  best 
friends.  He  that  payeth  another  man's 
debt,  seeketh  his  own  decay.  But  if  thou 
canst  not  otherwise  choose,  rather  lend  thy 
money  thyself  upon  good  bonds,  although 
thou  borrow  it.  So  shalt  thou  secure  thy- 
self, and  pleasure  thy  friend.  Neither 
borrow  money  of  a  neighbour  or  a  friend, 
but  of  a  stranger  ;  where,  paying  for  it,  thou 
shalt  hear  no  more  of  it.  Otherwise  thou 
shalt  eclipse  thy  credit,  lose  thy  freedom, 
and  yet  pay  as  dear  as  to  another.  But  in 
borrowing  of  money,  be  precious  of  thy 
word  ;  for  he  that  hath  care  of  keeping  days 
of  payment,  is  lord  of  another  man's  purse. 

VI.  Undertake  no  suit  against  a  poor 
man,  even  with  receiving  much  wrong : 
for    besides    that    thou    makest    him    thy 

[124] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

compeer,  it  is  a  base  conquest  to  triumph 
where  there  is  small  resistance.  Neither 
attempt  law  against  any  man,  before  thou 
be  fully  resolved  that  thou  hast  right  on 
thy  side  •  and  then  spare  not  for  either 
money  or  pains.  For  a  cause  or  two  so 
followed  and  obtained,  will  free  thee  from 
suits  a  great  part  of  thy  life. 

VII.  Be  sure  to  keep  some  great  man 
thy  friend,  but  trouble  him  not  for  trifles. 
Compliment  him  often  with  many,  yet 
small  gifts,  and  of  little  charge.  And  if 
thou  hast  cause  to  bestow  any  great  gratu- 
ity, let  it  be  something  which  may  be 
daily  in  sight.  Otherwise,  in  this  am- 
bitious age,  thou  shalt  remain  like  a  hop 
without  a  pole,  live  in  obscurity,  and  be 
made  a  football  for  every  insulting  com- 
panion to  spurn  at. 

VIII.  Towards  thy  superiors  be  hum- 
ble,   yet    generous.      With    thine    equals, 

[125] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

familiar,  yet  respective.  Towards  thine 
inferiors  show  much  humanity  and  some 
familiarity ;  as  to  bow  the  body,  stretch 
forth  the  hand,  and  to  uncover  the  head, 
with  such  like  popular  compliments.  The 
first  prepares  thy  way  to  advancement. 
The  second  makes  thee  known  for  a  man 
well  bred.  The  third  gains  a  good  re- 
port ;  which,  once  got,  is  easily  kept. 
For  right  humanity  takes  such  deep  root 
in  the  minds  of  the  multitude,  as  they  are 
more  easily  gained  by  unprofitable  cour- 
tesies than  by  churlish  benefits.  Yet  I 
advise  thee  not  to  affect  or  neglect  popu- 
larity too  much.  Seek  not  to  be  Essex  : 
shun  to  be  Raleigh. 

IX.  Trust  not  any  man  with  thy  life, 
credit,  or  estate.  For  it  is  mere  folly  for 
a  man  to  enthral  himself  to  his  friend,  as 
though,  occasion  being  offered,  he  should 
not  dare  to  become  an  enemy. 

[126] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

X.  Be  not  scurrilous  in  conversation, 
nor  satirical  in  thy  jests.  The  one  will 
make  thee  unwelcome  to  all  company ; 
the  other  pull  on  quarrels,  and  get  thee 
hated  of  thy  best  friends.  For  suspicious 
jests,  when  any  of  them  savour  of  truth, 
leave  a  bitterness  in  the  minds  of  those 
which  are  touched.  And,  albeit  I  have 
already  pointed  at  this  inclusively  ;  yet  I 
think  it  necessary  to  leave  it  to  thee  as  a 
special  caution  ;  because  I  have  seen 
many  so  prone  to  quip  and  gird,  as  they 
would  rather  lose  their  friend  than  their 
jest.  And  if  perchance  their  boiling  brain 
yield  a  quaint  scoff,  they  will  travail  to  be 
delivered  of  it  as  a  woman  with  child. 
These  nimble  fancies  are  but  the  froth 
of  wit. 


[  127] 


SIR  MATTHEW  HALE'S  AD- 
VICE TO   HIS    GRAND- 
CHILDREN 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 


SIR   MATTHEW  HALE'S  AD- 
VICE TO   HIS    GRAND- 
CHILDREN 

*^ 

CONCERNING  Company,  and 
THE  Choice  of  it. — There  is  a 
certain  magic  or  charm  in  company,  for  it 
will  assimilate,  and  make  you  like  to  them, 
by  much  conversation  with  them  ;  if  they 
be  good  company,  it  is  a  great  means  to 
make  you  good,  or  confirm  you  in  good- 
ness ;  but  if  they  be  bad,  it  is  twenty  to 
one  but  they  will  infect  and  corrupt  you. 
And  therefore  you  must  have  a  special 
care  in  the  choice  of  your  company,  es- 
pecially when  you  come  abroad  in  the 
world,  to  Oxford,  or  the  Inns  of  Court; 
for  you  must  know  that  when  a  young 
gentleman    or  gentlewoman,  especially  if 


[^3^] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

he  or  she  have  an  estate  or  fortune,  comes 
abroad  in  the  world,  especially  to  the  Inns 
of  Court,  or  Oxford,  there  are  a  sort  of 
beasts  of  prey  that  lie  in  wait  for  them,  as 
wolves  and  foxes  lie  in  wait  for  young 
lambs,  namely,  a  sort  of  necessitous  and 
indigent  sharks,  gamesters,  drinkers,  and 
debauched  persons ;  and  these  will  attack 
you  under  forty  disguises,  if  you  be  not 
aware  of  them,  and  will  confound  you  ; 
and  therefore  I  must  needs  again  and 
again  give  you  warning  hereof:  for  these 
are  a  sort  of  harpies  and  ravens,  that  pur- 
sue your  very  life,  or  at  least  your  estates 
and  reputations,  and  yet  many  times  under 
pretence  of  love  and  kindness. 

First. — Therefore  be  very  wary  and 
shy  in  choosing,  and  entertaining,  or  fre- 
quenting any  company  or  companions  ;  be 
not  too  hasty  in  committing  yourself  to 
them  :   stand   off  awhile  till  you  have  in- 

[  132  ] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

quired  of  some  that  you  know  by  experi- 
ence to  be  faithful,  what  they  are  ;  observe 
what  company  they  keep ;  be  not  too 
easy  to  gain  acquaintance,  but  stand  off 
and  keep  a  distance  yet  awhile,  till  you 
have  observed  and  learnt  touching  them. 
Men  or  women  that  are  greedy  of  ac- 
quaintance, or  hasty  in  it,  are  oftentimes 
snared  in  ill  company  before  they  are 
aware,  and  entangled  so  that  they  cannot 
easily  get  loose  from  it  after  when  they 
would. 

When  you  are  sent  to  Oxford,  you  will 
be  put  under  a  tutor  that  is  able  to  advise 
you.  The  first  thing  I  shall  do  with  you, 
if  I  live  to  send  you  to  the  Inns  of  Court, 
is  to  inquire  and  find  out  some  person 
with  whose  acquaintance  I  dare  trust  you ; 
a  man  of  discretion,  fidelity,  and  prudence. 
Before  you  entertain  any  new  acquaint- 
ance in   the   university,  advise   with  your 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

tutor,  whether  he  thinks  him  fit  for  you, 
and  the  like  you  are  to  do  with  that  per- 
son that  I  shall  commend  you  to,  when 
you  come  to  the  Inns  of  Court.  For  they 
having  more  experience,  and  more  oppor- 
tunity to  satisfy  themselves  therein,  than 
you  can  have,  will  be  able  better  to  advise 
you  in  the  choice  of  your  company  than 
you  can  yourselves. 

Secondly. — Do  not  choose  for  your 
friends  and  familiar  acquaintance  those 
that  are  of  an  estate  or  quality  too  much 
above  yours.  The  inconveniences  thereof 
are  these.  You  will  hereby  accustom 
yourselves  to  live  after  their  rate  in  clothes, 
in  habit,  and  in  expenses,  whereby  you 
will  learn  a  fashion  and  rank  of  life  above 
your  degree  and  estate,  which  will  in  the 
end  be  your  undoing.  Or,  if  you  live  not 
up  to  their  rate  of  clothes,  diet,  or  ex- 
pense, you  shall  be  despised  both  by  them 

[^34] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

and  others  ;  so  that  which  way  soever  you 
take,  you  shall  be  a  fool,  or  be  esteemed 
so  by  all  that  observe  you.  Therefore 
give  all  persons  of  higher  rank  or  greater 
estate  than  yourselves  all  due  respect ;  but 
make  not  choice  of  such  for  your  intimate 
acquaintance,  or  daily  companions. 

Thirdly. — On  the  other  side,  consort 
not  with  beggary,  base  or  necessitous 
companions ;  for  these  will  be  both  to 
your  discredit  and  disprofit ;  for  it  is  a 
thousand  to  one  but  they  will  make  a  prey 
of  you.  It  is  true,  they  will  flatter  you, 
and  give  you  goodly  titles  (esquire  at  the 
least) ;  they  will  set  you  up  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  table ;  but  the  design  all  the 
while  is  to  shark  upon  you,  to  make  you 
pay  their  reckonings,  and  supply  their 
wants.  Indeed  you  shall  be  honoured  by 
them,  in  outward  appearance,  as  the  best 
man   in    the   company,  but  you   must  pay 

[^35] 


PRACTICAL    ^V  I  S  D  Q  M 

for  it,  or  in  a  little  time  thev  will  despise 
you.  It  is  a  lamentable  sight  to  see  how 
young  gentlemen,  when  they  come  to  an 
university,  or  inns  of  court,  lose  them- 
selves when  they  are  listed  companions 
with  stage-players,  tapsters,  ostlers,  fiddlers, 
common  gamesters,  threadbare  poets,  serv- 
ing-men, and  such  like.  But  if  a  man  be 
ingenuous,  sober,  virtuous,  learned,  it  is 
no  disparagement  to  have  such  a  com- 
panion, though  he  be  of  a  mean  rank,  or 
estate,  or  degree  ;  for  you  will  receive 
benefit,  and  no  discredit,  by  such  a  person's 
conversation  and  acquaintance. 

Fourthly. — By  all  means  avoid  the 
companv  of  quarrelsome  or  choleric  per- 
sons. Hectors,  and  those  that  they  call 
swordsmen ;  for  if  you  keep  company 
with  such  persons,  it  is  a  thousand  to  one 
but  you  shall  be  quarrelled  with  by  them, 
or  engaged   in   their  quarrels  with  others. 


PRACTICAL    W  I  S  D  Q  M 

It  is  their  business  to  make  their  com- 
panions like  themselves,  and  to  instruct 
them  in  the  methods  of  quarrelling.  I  have 
ver}'^  often  seen  young  gentlemen,  by  being 
onlv  in  the  company  of  such  persons,  have 
been  miserably  entangled  thereby.  If  a 
person  be  killed  or  hurt  by  them,  or  by 
their  means,  all  that  are  in  the  company, 
though  possibly  innocent  of  the  fact  itself, 
yet  are  liable  to  be  questioned,  and  some- 
times for  their  lives,  for  being  in  company 
where  such  disorders  are  committed  ;  and 
it  is  scarce  possible  for  you  to  be  free 
from  the  danger  of  the  law,  if  you  are  in 
companv  of  those  that  commit  them  ;  for 
most  assuredly  you  will  be  necessarily  en- 
gaged in  the  quarrel,  and  so  your  lives 
may  come  in  danger  by  the  quarrel  itself, 
or  by  the  law,  that  spares  no  man  that  is 
a  party  in  such  a  fact ;  yea,  though  you 
are    innocent    of  the   fact  itself,  yet  being 

[^37] 


PRACl^ICAL    WISDOM 

in  that  company  that  committed  it,  you 
can  neither  avoid  the  suspicion  of  being  a 
partner  in  it,  but  you  must  be  put  upon 
your  trial  to  clear  yourself.  These  are  the 
common  and  necessary  inconveniences  of 
such  company  ;  and  the  only  way  to  avoid 
these  and  the  like  inconveniences,  is  wholly 
to  avoid  such  company. 

Fifthly. — And  what  I  have  said  con- 
cerning your  quarrelsome  company,  I  say 
concerning  intemperate  drinkers,  or  de- 
bauched companions :  you  must  avoid 
them,  as  you  will  avoid  the  company  of 
him  that  is  infected  with  the  plague,  and 
the  reasons  of  it  are  these  that  follow.  It 
is  a  thousand  to  one  but  they  will  corrupt 
you  into  the  same  quality  and  ill  condition 
with  themselves  :  there  is  a  kind  of  magic 
or  witchcraft  in  evil  company,  that  makes 
others  like  themselves.  They  will  use  all 
the  tricks  and  artifices  imaginable  to  make 

[138] 


P  R  A  C  r  I  C  A  L    WISDOM 

you  drink  to  excess,  or  debauch  you,  and 
when  they  have  once  got  but  one  such 
advantage  upon  you,  you  are  for  ever  their 
slave  (without  a  miracle  of  divine  provi- 
dence and  grace  to  deliver  you  from  them), 
for  they  are  masters  of  your  credit,  and  if 
you  at  any  time  after  refuse  to  consort 
with  them,  they  will  publish  to  your  friends, 
to  your  relations,  to  your  enemies,  to  the 
world,  in  what  a  condition  you  were  once 
in  their  company.  And  the  very  fear  of 
having  your  vices  published  by  them  will 
make  you  their  slaves,  and  engage  you  to 
hold  pace  with  them  in  many  disorders. 
When  men  are  disordered  with  wine,  or 
other  liquor,  they  put  themselves  out  of 
God's  protection,  and  are  laid  open  to  the 
management  of  the  devil ;  they  lose  the 
conduct  of  their  own  reason,  and  are  more 
ungovernable  than  brute  beasts  ;  no  vil- 
lainy comes    amiss,  but   they  are   qualified 

[  139] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

to  commit  it.  The  places  of  judicature 
which  I  have  long  held  in  this  kingdom, 
have  given  me  opportunity  to  observe  the 
original  cause  of  most  of  the  enormities 
that  have  been  committed  for  the  space  of 
near  twenty  years ;  and  by  a  due  observa- 
tion I  have  found,  that  if  the  murders  and 
manslaughters,  the  burglaries  and  robber- 
ies, the  riots  and  tumults,  the  adulteries, 
fornications,  rapes,  and  other  great  enor- 
mities, that  have  happened  in  that  time, 
were  divided  into  five  parts,  four  of  them 
have  been  the  issues  and  product  of  ex- 
cessive drinking  at  taverns,  or  alehouse 
meetings.  Therefore,  if  you  meet  any 
person  given  to  excess  of  drinking,  if  he 
invite  you  to  go  to  a  tavern  or  alehouse, 
or  any  such  house  of  disorder,  or  if  he  be- 
gin to  set  you,  or  any  else,  into  a  posture 
of  drinking,  remember  that  your  grand- 
father tells   you   such  a  person    is   not   for 

[  140] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

your  company  ;  you  must  avoid  him  and 
his  company,  for  he  is  laying  a  snare  for 
you,  to  betray  you  into  all  kinds  of  villainy, 
to  bereave  you  of  your  reputation,  your 
estate,  your  innocence,  to  withdraw  you 
from  your  duty  to  God,  to  put  you  out  of 
his  blessing  and  protection,  to  make  you  a 
perpetual  slave,  to  expose  you  to  all  kind 
of  enormities  and  mischiefs,  and  solicits 
you  to  unman  yourself,  and  put  you  into 
a  baser  rank  of  beings  than  the  very  brutes 
themselves.  If  you  yield  to  such  solicita- 
tions, it  is  a  thousand  to  one  but  you  are 
undone. 

But  if  you  have  that  resolution  and 
courage  to  deny  them  at  first,  and  to  de- 
cline such  companions  and  solicitations, 
these  vermin  and  pests  will  give  you  over, 
as  not  for  their  purpose ;  and  if  they  do 
persist  in  it,  yet  such  a  resolute  denial  by 
you  against  their  company  and  practices, 

[HI] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

will  enable  you  with  more  and  more  cour- 
age and  success  to  reject  them  thereafter, 
and  to  make  their  attempts  to  pervert  you 
insignificant  and  ineffectual. 

Sixthly. — Avoid  that  company  that  you 
find  or  observe  are  given  to  profane  swear- 
ing or  cursing,  to  blaspheme  God,  or  the 
Holy  Scriptures ;  that  choose  to  make 
demonstration  of  their  wit,  by  making 
jests  of  the  Scripture  phrases  or  passages, 
by  deriding  of  religion  or  religious  persons. 
This  is  a  pitiful,  sordid  indication  or  em- 
ployment of  wit.  Commonly  such  per- 
sons, whatever  they  pretend  to,  are  indeed 
bold  and  confident  enough,  but  yet  of 
narrow,  unfurnished  understandings,  and 
are  the  rankest  fools  in  the  world. 

Seventhly. — But  make  choice  of  those 
for  your  companions  and  confidants,  that 
are  sober,  prudent,  frugal,  pious,  and 
learned  ;   such   men's  discourse,  conversa- 

[  H2] 


P  R  A  C  r  I  C  A  L    WISDOM 

tion,  and  example,  will  habituate  you  to 
virtue,  wisdom,  and  goodness,  as  much 
and  oftentimes  much  more  than  a  man's 
own  reading  and  observation.  Such  a  con- 
versation makes  your  time  as  profitably 
spent  in  their  company  as  at  your  book, 
and  will  confirm  and  establish  you  in  ways 
of  piety  and  virtue. 

I  have  observed  among  young  men,  that 
possibly  are  not  vicious  nor  given  to  any 
ill  course,  the  kinds  of  choice  of  company. 
Some  affect  such  company  as  are  younger 
than  themselves,  and  are  such  as  have  less 
learning,  prudence,  or  understanding,  than 
they  themselves  have ;  and  this  they  do, 
not  so  much  to  inform  and  better  them, 
for  then  it  is  a  worthy  design,  but  out  of  a 
natural  desire  to  be  the  best,  and  the  wis- 
est, and  the  learnedest  in  the  company 
they  choose,  and  to  overmatch  any  of 
them  therein.      But  this  is,  though  a  harm- 

[143] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

less,  yet  an  imprudent  choice  of  company  ; 
for  such  a  man  shall  never  advance  much 
in  knowledge,  wisdom,  or  goodness,  that 
converseth  only  with  such  as  are  no  pro- 
ficients therein.  There  be  that  choose 
such  for  their  companions,  that  are  equals 
in  age,  and  parts,  or  education,  to  them ; 
and  this  is  a  much  better  choice  than  the 
former ;  because  natural  emulation  in 
equals  many  times  advanceth  learning  and 
wisdom,  and  goodness,  especially  if  there 
be  a  wise  inspector  and  superintendent  to 
all  the  company  ;  and  besides,  equality  of 
age  and  education  seems  a  common 
natural  invitation  to  consortship  and  ac- 
quaintance, and  therefore  it  is  by  no  means 
wholly  to  be  condemned,  but  rather  much 
to  be  cherished,  if  they  are  no  otherwise 
than  good  and  virtuous.  Again,  there  be 
others  that  neither  disdain  the  company  of 
inferiors  either  in  age  or  parts,  nor  decline 

[144] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

conversation  with  their  equals,  and  do  yet 
choose  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  and 
assiduity  of  conversation  vi^ith  those  that 
are  more  ripe  than  themselves  in  learning, 
in  age,  in  experience,  in  wisdom,  pru- 
dence, piety,  and  virtue. 

And  certainly  there  is  a  great  advan- 
tage to  young  gentlemen  and  gentlewomen 
in  this  kind  of  choice;  because  it  gives 
them  many  greater  advantages,  both  by 
instruction  and  example,  than  the  other 
choices ;  and  the  advances  of  virtue  and 
goodness  are  attained  hereby  with  greater 
security  and  stability,  and  with  greater 
and  readier  opportunities. 

And  therefore,  where  the  companies  are 
innocent  and  good,  though  I  would  not 
have  you  despise  the  conversation  of  your 
inferiors,  nor  neglect  the  conversation  of 
your  equals  in  age  and  proficiency,  yet  I 
do    advise    you  to   make  that    your  most 

[H5] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

eligible  company  that  exceed  you  in  age, 
learning,  and  experience,  and  choose  out 
of  that  number  a  person  for  your  principal 
confidant,  and  intimate  acquaintance,  still 
taking  care  that  he  be  a  sober,  pious,  and 
virtuous  man. 

Eighthly. — You  must  take  notice  that 
there  is  a  great  difference  to  be  made  be- 
tween these  three — namely,  an  acquaint- 
ance, a  companion,  an  intimate  friend. 
For  I  may  choose  such  a  man  for  my 
acquaintance,  which  yet  I  would  not  choose 
to  make  my  ordinary  companion ;  and 
such  a  man  for  my  ordinary  companion, 
which  yet  I  would  not  make  my  choice 
and  intimate  friend  ;  so  that  such  a  friend- 
ship is  of  a  narrower  consideration  than 
an  ordinary  companion,  and  such  a  com- 
panion is  of  a  narrower  consideration  than 
an  acquaintance.  Therefore,  although  I 
would   not   have    you   too   hasty  in   being 

[146] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

acquainted,  nor  yet  to  multiply  your  ac- 
quaintance too  much,  for  that  may  be 
troublesome,  chargeable,  and  inconvenient 
to  you ;  and  although  in  the  choice  of 
your  acquaintance,  I  would  have  you  avoid 
all  such  kind  of  persons  as  I  have  before 
in  this  chapter  warned  you  to  forbear,  yet 
I  cannot  advise  you  better,  especially  when 
you  come  to  some  ripeness  of  age,  than 
to  propound  to  you  that  course,  which  I 
knew  an  excellent  person  to  observe,  who, 
though  he  made  choice  of  ^cw  ordinary 
companions,  and  fewer  intimate  friends, 
yet  did  single  out  some  for  acquaintance, 
that  might  be  useful  to  him  in  all  the  con- 
cerns and  instances  of  his  life  :  he  selected 
such  or  such  a  person  for  his  physician  or 
apothecary  ;  such  or  such  a  person  for  his 
lawyer  or  attorney  :  such  a  person  for  ad- 
vice or  assistance  in  building,  surveying, 
planting,  husbandry  and  the    like  ;   and  in 

[147] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

this  used  a  great  deal  of  prudence  in  his 
choice ;  and  as  any  occasions  offered 
themselves,  so  he  applied  severally  to 
those  men  for  their  assistance,  and  was 
not  to  seek  for  advice  or  assistance  upon 
any  such  emergency  :  and  of  these,  as  he 
made  his  choice  with  great  consideration 
and  prudence,  so  he  rarely  changed  those 
he  had  thus  chosen  for  their  assistance 
upon  variety  of  occasions.  And  this  may 
be  convenient  to  be  done  by  any  man  of 
estate  and  business  in  the  world. 

Concerning  your  Carriage  to  your 
Inferiors,  Superiors,  and  Equals. — 
Before  I  shall  fall  to  particulars,  I  shall 
spend  a  few  words  in  general,  touching 
your  carriage  to  all  men. 

First. — You  must  know,  that  there  is 
no  person  that  lives,  but  may,  at  some 
time  or  other,  have  occasion  to  make  use 
of  another's  help  and  assistance  or  kind- 

[148] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

ness ;  and  there  is  not  the  meanest  person 
in  the  world,  but  one  time  or  other  may 
have  an  opportunity  of  doing  you  a  kind- 
ness or  assistance. 

Secondly. — You  must  know  there  is  no 
person    in    the    world,  though    seemingly 
never  so  vile   an   object,  but  one  time  or 
other  may  have   power  or  opportunity  to 
do  you  a  mischief,  or  procure   you   some 
notable   inconvenience :    these  are   truths 
that    are    most    certain,  though  too  little 
thought    upon    or  minded   by  most  men ; 
therefore  it  will  be  your  wisdom  to  keep  a 
common  fair  carriage  to  all   people  of  all 
ranks,  and  to  make   to    yourself   as   few 
enemies    as    you    can ;  still   remembering 
this  saying  of  mine,  that  there  is  not  the 
meanest  person  in  the  world,  but  once  in 
your   lifetime  you  may  some  way  or  other 
stand  in  need  of  his  help,  or  that  one  time 
or  other  may  have  power  and  opportunity 

[  149] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

to  do  you  a  mischief;  and  therefore  it  will 
be  your  wisdom  to  oblige  as  many  as  you 
can,  without  detriment  to  yourself,  and  to 
disoblige  none  without  great  necessity. 
Esop's  fables,  though  they  seem  but  light 
and  trivial,  yet  many  of  them  contain  ex- 
cellent morals;  I  shall  mention  two  to 
this  purpose. 

A  little  ant  being  fallen  into  the  water, 
and  like  to  be  drowned,  a  pigeon  flying  by, 
and  observing  the  ant's  extremity,  let  fall 
a  little  branch  into  the  water  to  relieve  the 
ant,  upon  which  she  got,  and  so  saved 
herself  and  got  to  the  land.  A  short  time 
after,  a  fowler  aimed  to  shoot  the  pigeon  : 
the  little  ant  being  near  at  hand,  and  re- 
membering the  kindness  the  pigeon  had 
showed  her,  and  observing  the  design  of 
the  fowler,  bit  him  by  the  foot,  whereby 
the  fowler  lost  his  aim  and  the  pigeon 
escaped. 

[ISO] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

Again  he  tells  us,  that  a  lion  sleeping 
in  the  forest,  a  little  mouse  running  up 
and  down  awakened  and  so  angered  the 
lion,  that  the  lion  in  a  rage  clapped  his 
paw  upon  the  mouse,  intending  to  have 
crushed  him  :  the  fable  tells  us  the  mouse 
entreated  the  lion  to  spare  him  ;  for,  said 
he,  if  thou  kill  me,  it  is  but  an  inglorious 
act  for  a  lion  to  kill  a  mouse,  but  if  thou 
spare  me,  it  is  possible  it  may  be  to  thy 
advantage  ;  the  lion  thereupon  let  him  go. 
Shortly  after  the  lion  was  taken  in  a  net 
that  the  hunters  laid  for  him,  and  could  by 
no  means  extricate  himself;  but  the  mouse 
passing  by,  and  remembering  the  former 
kindness  of  the  lion,  bit  asunder  the 
threads  of  the  net,  and  so  delivered  the 
lion. 

The  fables  show  us  these  few  observa- 
bles :  that  many  times  small  and  incon- 
siderable   instruments  may   procure   great 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

benefits  to  a  person  far  above  them  ;  and 
that  an  easy  and  cheap  kindness  may  sit 
so  close  to  the  memory  and  mind  of  an- 
other, that  it  may  procure  from  an  incon- 
siderable instrument  such  a  benefit  as  far 
exceeds  such  a  kindness. 

Therefore  I  would  have  you  constantly 
observe  these  general  rules  : 

First. — Never  provoke  the  most  incon- 
siderable person  in  the  world  unnecessa- 
rily, or  where  you  can  possibly  avoid  it ;  for 
thereby  you  make  an  enemy  which  may 
have  an  opportunity  to  revenge  himself, 
and  to  do  you  a  great  displeasure. 

Secondly. — And  therefore  use  no  con- 
tumelious words  or  language  unnecessarily 
of  any  man,  nor  any  reproachful,  slighting, 
or  despising  carriage  towards  him,  neither 
deal  injuriously  with  him  :  remember  the 
old  proverb,  '  a  dog  will  have  a  day.' 

Thirdly. — Oblige  as  many  as  you  can 


PRACl^ICAL    WISDOM 

have  occasion  to  converse  withal,  with 
such  kindness  as  may  well  stand  with 
your  condition  to  bear  or  perform.  There 
is  a  sort  of  kindness  that  does  not  cost  a 
man  much  to  do,  which  yet  hath  a  great 
influence  upon  the  affections  of  men,  and 
a  man  shall  be  certainly  a  gainer  and  not 
a  loser  in  doing  them  :  as  for  instance,  the 
putting  off  the  hat  to  an  inferior;  kind 
words  to  him,  or  of  him  ;  forgiving  and 
passing  by  some  small  trespass  ;  lending  a 
small  matter  to  a  man  that  wants,  nay, 
sometimes  bestowing  it  freely  ;  relieving  a 
stranger  or  necessitous  person  with  an 
alms  ;  and  a  hundred  such  small  kindnesses 
may  be  performed  without  any  damage  to 
him  that  doth  them,  and  yet  many  times 
it  procures  a  return  of  far  greater  advan- 
tage. I  do  not  mean  those  rank  kind- 
nesses that  unreasonable  men  will  expect, 
as  to  become  bound  for  a  man,  or  to  lend 

[^53] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

or  give  him  more  than  a  man  is  able ;  for 
as  touching  such  I  shall  give  you  a  caution 
hereafter;  but  I  speak  of  those  ordinary, 
easy,  familiar  kindnesses  and  respects, 
which  may  be  performed  without  any  con- 
siderable damage  to  yourself. 

And  in  showing  of  these  kindnesses,  I 
would  have  you  perform  them  cheerfully 
and  readily,  and  they  will  oblige  the  more. 
It  is  a  true  saying  of  old  Sir  Francis  Bacon, 
that  for  the  most  part,  men  are  more  taken 
with  unprofitable  courtesies  than  with 
churlish  benefits. 

Fourthly. — There  is  no  one  thing  in 
the  world  that  doth  make  a  man  more 
enemies,  or  doth  disoblige  more,  than  a 
proud  and  haughty  carriage  ;  it  is  a  thing 
that  gives  a  general  distaste  to  all  man- 
kind, and  to  all  dispositions  ;  to  poor  and 
to  rich,  to  great  and  to  small,  to  them  that 
are  humble,  and  to  them  that  are  proud  as 

[154] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

they  ;  and  as  it  makes  a  man  many  ene- 
mies, so  it  gives  his  enemies  a  great  ad- 
vantage against  him,  it  makes  a  man  ridic- 
ulous, and  exposeth  a  man  not  only  to 
hazard,  but  also  to  contempt  and  scorn. 

On  the  other  hand,  a  decent  yet  humble 
deportment,  especially  in  a  man  of  worth, 
place,  and  estate,  makes  almost  every  man 
his  friend  ;  but  certainly  it  makes  no  man 
his  enemy. 

Therefore  in  all  your  deportment  and 
carriage,  avoid  pride,  haughtiness,  arro- 
gancy,  contempt  of  others ;  and  let  your 
carriage  be  gentle,  courteous,  and  with  a 
decent  and  becoming  humility  to  all  men. 

It  is  true,  the  demonstration  of  humility 
is  not  of  one  and  the  same  standard  or 
measure  unto  persons  of  differing  qualities  ; 
namely,  to  superiors  and  inferiors.  A  man 
of  a  truly  humble  spirit  and  humble  car- 
riage is   not  bound  to  show  the  same  ex- 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

ternal  tokens  of  respect  to  a  beggar  as  to 
a  prince  ;  to  a  servant,  as  to  his  master : 
but  still  there  must  be  a  real  humility,  and 
perfect  avoiding  of  pride  in  every  instance  ; 
though  the  external  demonstration  of  that 
humility  may,  and  must  be  varied,  accord- 
ing to  the  variety  of  the  condition  of  the 
person  whom  it  concerns.  I  stand  bare 
in  the  presence-chamber  of  the  king  ;  but 
I  do  not  so  in  the  presence-chamber  of  a 
lord.  I  stand  bare  to  a  great  man,  I  put 
off  my  hat  only  to  an  equal,  but  I  do 
neither  to  one  that  begs  an  alms  of  me; 
yet  I  may  in  all  use  the  same  humility  of 
mind,  and  also  of  deportment,  though 
under  a  different  ceremony  and  external 
gesture.  Custom  hath  made  a  difference, 
and  so  may  an  humble  man,  and  yet  still 
be  the  same  humble  man  in  all  those  dif- 
fering external  postures,  and  as  free  from 
pride,  not  only  in  his  mind  but  also  in  his 

[156] 


PRACTICAL    WISDO  M 

carriage,  when  he  talks  with  a  beggar,  as 
with  a  prince. 

And  you  must  take  this  always  along 
with  you  as  a  great  truth,  that  pride,  or 
haughtiness  of  mind  or  carriage,  is  not 
only  displeasing  to  men,  but  displeasing  to 
the  great  God  of  heaven  and  earth.  I  do 
not  in  my  remembrance  find  any  expres- 
sion in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  declaring  so 
much  indignation  of  the  glorious  God 
against  any  one  sin,  as  against  pride. 
'  Surely  he  scorneth  the  scorners,  but  he 
giveth  grace  unto  the  lowly  '  :  which  text  is 
rendered  by  St.  James  and  by  St.  Peter, 
'  God  resisteth  the  proud,  and  giveth  grace 
to  the  humble.'  The  God  of  heaven  sets 
himself  against  the  proud,  to  abase  and 
bring  them  down.  A  proud  man  hath 
the  great  God  of  heaven  and  earth  for  his 
enemy  and  opposer :  and  no  man,  no 
prince,  no  angel,  can   bear  up  against   his 

[^57] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

opposition,  which  will  most  certainly 
overmatch  him.  The  short  of  all  this 
general  direction  is  this :  I  would  have 
you  have  but  few  intimate  familiar  friends 
in  whom  you  repose,  especially,  trust  and 
confidence ;  but  yet  have  as  many  friends 
at  large  as  you  can,  and  as  few  enemies, 
and  order  your  conversation  accordingly. 

Now  as  to  the  particular  directions. 
And  first,  in  relation  to  your  inferiors. 

Avoid  in  an  especial  manner  all  con- 
tentions, as  much  as  you  can,  with  in- 
feriors ;  rather  forgive  and  pass  by  a  small 
injury  than  use  any  revenge,  even  by 
court  of  law  or  otherwise  ;  for  if  you  pre- 
vail, you  shall  gain  little  by  your  victory 
where  there  is  little  to  make  recompense ; 
and  you  shall  be  counted  an  oppressor,  or 
at  best,  a  very  hard  and  cruel  man  ;  but  if 
you  be  worsted,  it  will  cast  a  very  great 
contempt  upon  you,  to  be  overmatched  by 


P  R  A  C  1  I  C  A  L    WISDOM 

your  inferior.  But  if  the  case  be  of  such 
a  nature  that  you  are  in  a  manner  enforced 
to  repair  yourself  against  an  injury  com- 
mitted by  your  inferior  (or  indeed  by  any 
person)  ;  observe  that  you  make  not  your- 
self your  own  judge  or  avenger,  but  com- 
plain to  the  civil  magistrate.  When  you 
have  gotten  the  better  upon  such  a  com- 
plaint, do  not  prosecute  an  inferior  to  the 
utmost  extremity,  but  take  a  reasonable 
satisfaction  ;  or  if  he  be  very  poor,  forgive 
it  altogether :  you  have  this  great  advan- 
tage by  it,  that  by  how  much  the  more  it 
was  in  your  power  to  use  your  advantage 
upon  him,  by  so  much  the  more  your 
mercy  and  goodness  in  forgiving  him  will 
appear  and  oblige  him  to  you,  and  not 
only  make  him  cautious  of  injuring  you 
for  the  future,  but  also  the  more  ready  to 
serve  you  in  all  offices  of  kindness. 
Overmuch     familiarity    will    make    them 

HIT] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

contemn  and  despise  you,  and  on  the  other 
side  too  much  superciliousness  and  strange- 
ness to  them  will  make  them  hate  you; 
and  therefore  you  must  be  careful  to  avoid 
both  extremes,  and  to  that  end  keep  a 
decent  distance ;  but  yet  with  demonstra- 
tion of  kindness,  affability,  and  respect  to 
them,  according  to  their  quality  and 
condition. 

For  instance,  in  relation  to  your  ser- 
vants, if  you  be  too  familiar  with  them, 
they  will  quickly  be  your  fellows  ;  and  on 
the  other  side,  if  you  be  over-imperious, 
insolent,  and  churlish  to  them,  they  will 
hate  you,  or  at  best  will  never  love  you, 
nor  be  very  faithful  to  you  ;  you  must 
therefore  take  care  that  you  carry  your- 
selves towards  them  neither  as  your  fel- 
lows nor  your  slaves,  but  with  a  distance, 
yet  a  decent  and  becoming  distance,  carry- 
ing with  it  a  suitable  respect  to  them  ;  and 

[i6o] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

by  this  means  they  will  both  fear  and  love 
you.  Never  use  any  words  or  carriage, 
that  may  savour  of  contumely,  reproach, 
or  scorn,  to  the  most  inferior  persons  in 
the  world,  no,  not  to  a  beggar.  If  you  do 
not  give  them  an  alms,  tell  them  so,  but 
give  no  reproachful  words  to  the  meanest 
person  in  the  world. 

In  relation  to  your  equals  observe  these 
directions  :  Be  courteous  and  respectful  to 
them  both  in  words  and  gestures ;  offer 
them  the  precedence,  and  take  not  place 
of  an  equal,  unless  it  be  earnestly  pressed 
upon  you ;  for  such  a  small  trifle  will 
procure  you  many  friends,  and  will  not 
abate  any  thing  of  your  respect.  It  is  a 
foolish  and  ridiculous  thing  for  any  man 
or  woman  to  be  contending  or  shuffling 
for  precedence.  Give  it  to  any,  rather 
than  take  it  against  their  mind.  It  will 
not  abate  the  value  that  others  will  have 

[i6i] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

of  you,  and  among  wise  and  discreet  per- 
sons it  will  give  you  the  reputation  of  a 
discreet  person.  In  your  choice  of  a 
companion,  rather  choose  an  equal  than 
an  inferior  or  superior.  But  touching 
this,  I  shall  say  more  in  the  next  general 
head. 

In  relation  therefore  to  superiors.  Su- 
periors are  in  seversl  kinds :  as  superiors 
in  age  j  superiors  in  estates  ;  superiors  in 
authority,  as  magistrates  j  superiors  in 
place,  as  noblemen;  superiors  in  relation, 
as  parents,  husbands,  masters  :  and  touch- 
ing your  carriage  to  all  superiors,  observe 
these  directions. 

Pirst. — Give  all  due  respect  and  rever- 
ence to  your  superiors  ;  as  by  uncovering 
the  head,  making  obeisance,  giving  them 
the  place  and  precedence,  giving  them 
leave  to  speak  before  you,  not  catching 
the  words  out  of  their  mouths  before  they 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

have  done  speaking,  as  the  fashion  of  some 
giddy  people  is.  These,  and  the  like 
demonstrations  of  respect,  cost  you  noth- 
ing, and  yet  many  times  are  of  great  ad- 
vantage, and  always  are  well  taken. 

Secondly. — Contend  not  with  a  superior 
about  a  trifle,  but  rather  pass  it  by  without 
taking  notice  of  it ;   neither  willingly  upon 
any  account  go  to  law  with  them,  unless 
it  be   upon   a  great  injury,   and    such  as 
your  condition  or  estate  cannot  well  bear; 
and  even  in  such  cases  use  all  due  applica- 
tion, either   by  yourself  or  by  the  media- 
tion of  others,  to  compose  the  diflference  ; 
for  as  always  lawsuits    are    troublesome, 
and  hazardous,  and  expensive,  so  they  are 
much  more  such,  where  an  inferior  con- 
tends with  a   superior   in   estate,  place,  or 
authority  ;   for  if  you  are  worsted,  you  are 
in  danger  to  be  over-run  by  the  power  of 
the  adversary,  and  though  you  prevail  and 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

have  the  better  in  the  suit,  yet  you  make 
him  an  implacable  enemy,  that  will  be 
always  watching  an  opportunity  to  be  quits 
with  you,  and,  one  time  or  other,  it  is  a 
thousand  to  one  but  he  will  do  you  a  dis- 
pleasure. Therefore  let  your  suit  at  law, 
with  a  man  greater  or  more  powerful  than 
yourself,  be  your  last  refuge,  and  that  in 
case  of  great  and  extreme  necessity. 

Thirdly. — Never  make  a  man  that  is 
much  your  superior  in  wealth  or  honour 
your  ordinary  companion,  for  the  reasons 
given  before  in  the  foregoing  chapter. 

Fourthly. — Visit  your  superior  at  his 
house  sometimes,  to  testify  your  respect ; 
but  let  it  be  very  seldom,  and  that  not  at 
meals,  but  in  an  afternoon  :  for  your  often 
visits  will  be  but  troublesome;  and  your 
visiting  at  meals,  besides  other  inconven- 
iences, will  draw  you  into  this  great  one, 
that  you  will  draw  the  like  inconvenience 

[164] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

upon  yourself,  in  which  if  you  do  not 
equal  his,  it  will  make  you  ridiculous  ;  and 
if  it  do  equal  his,  it  will  be  too  chargeable 
for  you  to  bear. 

And  what  I  say  touching  visits  of  su- 
periors, I  would  have  you  observe  as  to 
equals  ;  for  one  entertainment  invites  an- 
other, which  if  it  fall  out  often,  will  be 
not  only  a  perpetual  trouble,  but  an  occa- 
sion of  excessive  expense.  If  my  friend 
come  to  me  to  eat  with  me  uninvited,  he 
must  content  himself  with  welcome,  and 
what  he  finds  ;  but  if  it  once  come  to  an 
invitation,  the  preparation  must  be  more 
costly  than  ordinary,  or  it  answers  not 
expectation. 

Fifthly. — And  therefore  never  invite 
any  great  man  to  your  house  to  an  enter- 
tainment ;  for  possibly  his  ordinary  meals 
are  as  good  as  your  feast,  or  better,  and 
then  you  shall  be  laughed   at  for  your  par- 

[165] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

simony  ;  and  if  you  go  to  exceed,  you 
shall  be  laughed  at  for  your  prodigality  ; 
however  your  purse  shall  suffer  beyond 
what  it  is  well  able  to  bear. 

Sixthly. — Never  receive  any  kindness 
from  any  man,  either  superior  or  equal, 
which  you  are  not  able  to  repay  without 
great  charge  and  detriment  to  yourself;  for 
then  you  are  in  very  great  danger  to  be 
made  his  slave  or  his  enemy  :  and,  many 
times,  great  kindnesses  from  great  men  are 
but  preambles  to  some  great  kindness  to 
be  done  to  them,  and  if  they  are  disap- 
pointed therein  they  become  the  most 
bitter  enemies.  I  have  oftentimes  known, 
when  extraordinary  respect  and  favours  or 
kindnesses  are  shown  from  great  men  to 
their  inferiors,  that  within  a  little  time 
after,  a  message  hath  been  sent,  or  desire 
made  to  be  bound  for  him  or  to  sell  him 
such  a  parcel  of  land  that  lies  convenient 

[i66] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

for  him,  or  to  do  him  such  piece  of  ser- 
vice as  is  either  unseemly  or  dangerous ; 
and  then  the  man  that  received  the  kind- 
ness is  either  so  taken  or  mollified  by  the 
kindness  received,  that  he  must  perform 
that  which  is  requested ;  or  if  he  be  so 
hardy  as  to  deny  it,  the  great  man  becomes 
his  great  enemy.  Therefore  be  wary  how 
you  receive  great  kindnesses  from  great 
men,  lest  they  be  attended  with  an  ex- 
pectation of  such  services  from  you,  as 
are  either  unfit,  or  unsafe,  or  inconvenient 
to  be  performed  by  you. 

Seventhly. — It  is  an  excellent  rule  of 
Sir  Francis  Bacon  to  his  son,  that  if  there 
be  occasion  for  an  inferior  to  make  a 
present  to  his  superior,  that  it  be  not  too 
costly,  nor  such  as  is  in  danger  to  be 
quickly  forgotten ;  but  the  present  to  be 
small,  and  such  as  may  have  continuance 
and  always  in  view,  as  some  slight  picture, 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

or  a  staff,  or  a  book  :  but  never  present  a 
judge  with  any  thing  of  what  kind  soever; 
for  if  he  be  wise  and  just,  he  will  suspect 
your  business,  and  reject  your  present  as  a 
bribe;  and  if  he  be  unjust  and  receive 
your  present,  you  may  be  overcome  by 
your  adversary,  and  so  lose  your  gift  and 
your  cause  too  :  and  bribery  is  a  base 
o6Fence,  both  in  the  giver  and  in  the  taker. 
And  thus  much  shall  serve  touching 
your  civil  deportment  to  your  inferiors, 
equals,  and  superiors. 


[i68] 


ADVICE  OF  WILLIAM,  EARL 
OF  BEDFORD,  TO  HIS  SONS 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 


ADVICE  OF  WILLIAM,  EARL 
OF  BEDFORD,  TO  HIS  SONS 

^* 

IGNORANCE  and  vice  are  the  usual 
effects  of  an  unlearned  and  undis- 
ciplined education.  Of  my  passionate 
desire  to  free  you  and  your  brother  from 
both  these,  I  suppose  I  have  given  you 
and  the  world  sufficient  testimony,  sure  I 
am,  I  have  satisfied  myself;  and  you  may 
guess  how  violent  my  longings  are  to  ad- 
vance your  piety  and  understanding,  that 
is,  to  render  you  perfect  men,  in  that, 
death  is  only  displeasing,  when  I  think  of 
dying  before  I  see  this  my  desire  accom- 
plished, or  at  least  so  far  as  my  hopes  may 
be  greater  than  my  fears :  and  as  death 
every  day  makes  his  approaches  nearer 
and  nearer  (God   knows  how  soon  he  will 


In^l 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

make  a  long  separation  between  us) ;  and 
in  this  other  regard  too,  that  whilst  I  live 
I  shall  always  be  with  thee.  Be  this,  then, 
received,  either  as  a  legacy  for  the  will  of 
a  dying,  or  the  advice  of  a  living  father,  if 
it  be  observed  or  obeyed  in  either  capacity, 
I  shall  think  myself  neither  dead  nor  ab- 
sent ;  I  put  it  into  your  hands  with  a 
prayer,  that  God  will  give  it  his  blessing, 
and  then  you  have  mine. 

It  was  the  wisest  saying  of  the  wisest 
man.  The  fear  of  God  is  the  beginning  of 
wisdom.  Holiness  then  is  the  introduc- 
tion of  all  wisdom ;  so  it  shall  be  the  first 
of  my  advice,  fear  God,  and  if  holiness 
give  knowledge,  knowledge  will  give  thee 
happiness,  long  life,  riches,  and  honour. 
Length  of  days  is  in  the  right  hand  of 
wisdom,  and  in  her  left  hand  are  riches 
and  honour,  said  the  wise  King :  how  ex- 
alted  a  thing,  then,  is   religion,  which   is 

[172] 


PRACIICAL    WISDOM 

the  mother  of  so  great  blessings,  and  who 
will  pity  thy  complaints  for  the  want  of 
any  of  these,  if  they  be  obtained  by  the 
pleasure  of  (that  which  will  also  crown 
thee  with  heaven)  an  holy  life;  be  pious, 
and  thou  art  all  these  ;  fear  God,  and  thou 
shalt  not  fear  man,  or  devil,  for  it  will  set 
thee  above  the  reach  of  fortune,  or  malice. 
Religion. — For  thy  religion,  distinguish 
not  thyself  by,  be  not  factious  for,  nor 
serve  under  any  sect  whatsoever;  be  thou 
a  Christian,  the  most  pure,  certain,  noblest 
worshipper  of  God  of  all  others.  But  if 
thou  art  pressed  to  give  up  thy  name  to 
any  one  profession,  inquire  after  and  em- 
brace that  whose  principles  conduce  most 
to  piety,  that  which  comes  nearest  the 
doctrine  of  Christ.  And  in  the  examina- 
tion of  questions  in  religion,  though  I  am 
no  divine,  yet  I  dare  venture  to  guide 
your  conscience  thus  far.      Be  careful  still 

[  nz] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

to  search  into  the  consequences  of  a  doc- 
trine ;  rely  upon  the  Scriptures,  which  are, 
without  exposition,  plain,  and  which,  if 
they  offer  injury  to  the  attributes  of  God, 
rendering  them  such  as  we  should  abhor 
ourselves  to  be,  or  if  they  open  the  gate  to 
looseness  and  profaneness,  by  no  means 
give  them  entertainment.  Lastly,  labour 
diligently  to  find  the  truth  when  God  shall 
enable  you  with  abilities  for  that  great 
work,  for  I  would  not  have  you  owe  your 
religion  to  your  education  only  ;  and  for 
your  encouragement  to  the  search  of  this 
truth,  heedfully  remember  the  most  excel- 
lent saying  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  '  If  any 
man  will  do  his  will,  he  shall  know  of 
the  doctrine  whether  it  be  of  God  or  man.' 
God  never  denied  himself  to  him  that 
sought  him  by  prayer  and  holiness  of  life. 
And  when  you  have  thus  happily  found 
this  divine  truth,  embrace  it  sincerely,  and 

[^74] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

follow  it  constantly,  and  be  sure  to  give  it 
honour  by  your  conversation. 

Loyalty. — Next  to  the  fear  of  God, 
the  Apostle  commands  honour  to  the  King, 
which  if  it  be  not  the  sum  of  the  second 
table,  as  the  other  is  of  the  first,  it  cannot 
be  denied  to  be  the  principal  and  main 
pillar  thereof.  And  let  me  tell  thee,  if 
thou  dost  honour  thy  father  and  thy 
mother,  thou  canst  neither  be  rebel  nor 
schismatic,  disloyal  to  the  sovereign  power, 
or  disobedient  to  the  church. 

Duty  to  Parents. — As  for  your  duty 
to  me,  I  doubt  not  but  it  will  grow  up 
with  your  understanding  •,  and  when  you 
know  how  nice  and  curious  my  care  hath 
been  over  your  education,  even  to  the  least 
circumstance,  my  prying  into  your  inclina- 
tion, observing  the  bent  of  your  soul,  her 
very  first  putting  forth,  heightening  the 
good,  and  checking  the  ill,  placing  guards 

[175  J 


PRACIICAL    WISDOM 

upon  your  senses  and  conversation,  not 
only  pointing  out  the  way  to  virtue,  by 
putting  your  feet  into  it,  and  teaching  you 
to  tread  it  (I  speak  not  of  fashioning  or 
adorning  your  body,  for  I  would  not  have 
you  to  measure  my  love  and  care  by  gay 
clothes,  noble  diet,  and  recreation,  though 
you  enjoyed  these  in  some  measure)  ;  when 
you  come  to  know  and  judge  of  this,  I 
have  reason  to  expect,  and  therefore  may 
boldly  challenge,  that  if  you  were  to  choose 
a  father,  you  would  seek  me  out.  Should 
you  now  so  behave  yourself,  that  as  if  I 
were  to  choose  a  son,  to  adopt  a  gentle- 
man into  my  family  to  inherit  my  name 
and  fortunes,  you  only  I  should  pitch 
upon  ;  besides  the  joy  of  beholding  it,  I 
should  have  a  requital  even  to  my  wish. 
Nor  were  it  possible  for  you  to  die  in  my 
debt  for  your  education,  if  you  observe 
this,  with  like  care  to  bring  up  your  chil- 

[176] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

dren  also,  if  it  shall  please  God  to  give 
you  that  blessing ;  and  because  I  have  an 
ambition  to  oblige  posterity,  I  do  here 
charge  this  duty  upon  you,  that  you  also 
lay  the  like  charge  upon  yours,  and  they 
on  their  children  successively.  For  in- 
genuous manners  first  made  us  noble, 
marked  out  and  advanced  our  family  first 
to  honour;  with  equal  reason  and  more 
facility,  will  such  manners  preserve  us 
noble,  which  is  most  certainly  eff"ected  by 
education,  otherwise  the  estate  I  leave 
you  will  be  but  as  rich  trappings  upon  an 
ass,  and  render  you  more  ridiculous  : 
wherefore,  whatsoever  you  leave  your 
heirs  (and  now  I  speak  to  your  posterity 
in  you),  be  sure  to  give  them  a  learned 
and  liberal  education  ;  there  being,  in  my 
judgment,  no  other  way  to  secure  you 
from  falling  from  honour,  and  the  despite 
of  fortune.      This  which  I  have  said  con- 

[  177] 


PRACIICAL    WISDOM 

cerning  your  duty  to  me,  is  also  applicable 
to  the  memory  of  your  excellent  mother, 
for  a  personal  observance  you  cannot  pay 
her.  I  most  strictly  charge  you  often  to 
call  to  mind,  that  you  and  your  brother 
have  entered  into  a  solemn  engagement 
unto  me,  under  your  hands,  to  imitate  the 
honours  and  excellencies  of  that  dear  saint, 
the  best  of  wives,  the  best  of  mothers  and 
friends.  Be  religious  in  the  performance 
of  it,  as  you  expect  my  blessing.  Re- 
member she  had  more  pangs  in  your 
bringing  up,  than  bringing  forth,  and  she 
hath  been  an  excellent  nurse  to  your  mind, 
regarding  more  the  health  and  straitness  of 
that,  than  of  your  body,  though  this  were 
cared  for  with  the  greatest  tenderness 
imaginable.  The  truth  is,  you  owe  her 
so  much,  that  you  cannot  clear  your  ob- 
ligation by  any  other  way ;  nothing  can 
discharge  you,  and  acquit  you  to  her  also, 

[178] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

but   by    being   such   to   yours,  as   she   has 
been  to  you,  and  thus  her  memory  is  hon- 
oured, and  I  profess  myself  satisfied. 
Affection  to  Brothers  and  Sisters. 

As     for    your    carriage    towards    your 

brothers  and  sisters,  I  must  need  say,  that 
your  natural  kindness  towards  them  now, 
gives   me   great   hopes   that   you  will  be  a 
loving  brother  hereafter.     And  be   so,  as 
you  expect  the  blessing  of  God,  and   my 
favour.      Besides,  your  interest  will  require 
this     from     you,    because     a     numerous, 
wealthy,  and  ancient    family,  entire,   and 
agreeing  within   itself  with  all  its  depend- 
ants    and     relatives,     cannot      easily     be 
wronged  in  such  a  country  as  this.   I  know 
very  well  how  little  it  can  suffer,  and  how 
much  it  can  do  ;   but  then  it  must  be  as  I 
said,  entire.     The  dying    father's  bundle 
of  arrows    in    the   fable,  has   an  excellent 
moral,  to    show  how  invincible    love   and 

[  179] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

union  are.  And  that  you  may  rightly  un- 
derstand me,  this  love  of  yours  to  them, 
must  not  only  be  in  affectionate  words, 
kind  entertainment,  and  the  like,  but  in  a 
hearty  real  performance  of  all  good  offices 
that  may  tend  to  the  advantage  of  their 
estates  and  reputation  ;  study  to  do  them 
good,  and  stay  not  for  opportunities  of- 
fered, snatch  them  rather  and  prevent 
their  wishes.  This  is  a  noble  way  of 
obliging,  and  by  this  means  you  may  make 
them  your  friends,  a  dearer  name  by  far 
than  that  of  brother  or  sister,  and  which, 
perhaps,  may  be  repaid  to  yours,  though 
yourself  may  not  need  the  return ;  for  I 
must  tell  you,  kind  offices  have  been  re- 
membered when  the  bestower  has  been 
rotten  :  and  a  grandchild  hath  been  thanked, 
sometimes  relieved,  for  the  grandfather's 
kindness :  insomuch  as  the  courtesy  to 
your  brother  may  prove  a  charity  to  your 

[i8o] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

child,  think  seriously  of  this,  and  remem- 
ber   it.      But    that   I   may  be    thoroughly 
understood  in  this  advice,  your  love  doth 
not   end    here,  and  I  am  not  fully  obeyed 
if  you  only  love  them  in  that  manner  as  I 
have  expressed  :  you  must  endeavour  that 
they  love   one   another  also  ;  to  this  end, 
be  sure  to  put  out  the  fire  of  discontent,  if 
any  appear,  or    but    the    smoke    thereof, 
presently,  so   soon   as   it  doth  appear,  and 
be  careful  to  put  it  quite  out,  for  smoth- 
ered discontents  break  out  afterwards  with 
more  violence.     And  herein  after  my  de- 
cease, you  are  to  show  the  authority  of  a 
father,  as  well  as  the  love  of  a  brother  to 
your  family  ;   for  which  purpose,  you  ought 
to  enable   yourself  with  those  abilities  of 
understanding  and  judgment,  that  you  may 
be  a  person  fit  to  be  sought  unto,  and  to 
be  relied  upon.      This  will  give  you  author- 
ity, and  upon  a  presumption,  these  both 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

sides  will  be  inclined  to  rest  and  settle, 
being  confident  that  your  equal  affection 
will  not  suffer  you  to  deceive  them,  nor 
your  sound  reason  to  be  deceived  yourself. 
Affection  to  Kindred. — This  advice 
I  must  carry  also  into  my  next  particular 
that  concerns  your  kindred,  which,  for  the 
former  reasons,  you  must  also  labour  to 
preserve  in  amity,  at  least  the  major  and 
better  part  of  them,  and  it  will  require  a 
very  good  skill,  but  once  happily  effected, 
it  must  needs  bring  you  great  reputation. 
Let  your  outward  deportment  be  full  of 
respect  to  all  your  kindred,  but  reserve 
to  yourself  a  secret  mark  and  character  of 
each.  And  take  heed  of  suffering  them 
to  come  within  you,  yet  thrust  them  not 
off;  gentleness,  but  managed  with  discre- 
tion, will  be  sometimes  necessary  ;  yet 
distance  and  gravity  must  presently  step 
in  to  secure  it  from  presumption,  and  pro- 

[182] 


PRACIICAL    WISDOM 

tect  it  from  abuse.  I  should  say  more 
concerning  this,  but  I  refer  you  to  my 
more  secret  instructions,  where  you  shall 
have,  God  enabling  me,  a  particular  of 
those  friends  and  servants  to  your  family, 
whose  counsels  you  may  follow,  and  whose 
service  you  may  trust. 

You  are  now  setting  your  foot  into  the 
world,  but  before  you  place  it,  look  about 
you,  and  consider  that  you  can  hardly  set 
it  but  upon  a  snare,  or  a  thorn,  which  calls 
upon  you  both  for  care,  and  courage  :  with 
these,  take  my  experience  for  your  guide ; 
and,  if  you  follow  not  my  directions  ex- 
actly, which  free  you  from  all  danger,  yet 
tread  as  near  as  you  can,  you  shall  sufFer 
the  less  ;   slip  you  may,  fall  you  cannot. 

Manners. — I  have  observed  that  the 
greatest  mischief  to  our  manners,  proceed- 
eth  from  a  mistake  of  the  nature  of  things  ; 
learn,  therefore,  first  to  make  a  right  judg- 

[183] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

ment  of  things  ;  esteem  not  a  feather,  and 
slight  a  jewel ;  know  that  nothing  is  beauti- 
ful, great,  or  your  own,  but  only  virtue 
and  piety ;  riches  are  not  great  revenues, 
noble  houses,  money,  or  plate  ;  but  not  to 
want  that  which  is  necessary  to  support  a 
moderate  and  ingenuous  condition  :  that 
glory,  is  to  be  well  spoken  of  for  doing 
good ;  honour,  a  reverence  for  being  vir- 
tuous ;  power  and  command,  an  ability  to 
oblige  noble  persons ;  nobility,  heroic 
actions,  or  to  be  like  noble  ancestors : 
generosity,  a  natural  inclination  to  virtue ; 
health,  such  a  constitution  of  the  body  as 
renders  the  mind  vigorous  ;  beauty,  a  fair 
soul  lodged  in  no  unhandsome  body ; 
strength,  not  to  be  weary  in  virtuous 
actions  ;  pleasure,  those  pure,  firm,  lasting 
delights,  which  arise  from  those  things 
alone  which  belong  to  the  understanding 
and  soul.      All  which  definitions  of  things 

[184] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

are  clean  contrary  to  the  vulgar  concep- 
tions, and,  consequently,  not  to  be  ex- 
pected in  their  practice. 

Thy  birth  hath  separated  thee  from  the 
people ;  let  thy  actions  also  carry  thee, 
and  raise  thee  above  them ;  suspect  all 
things  they  admire ;  neither  think  their 
opinion,  nor  live  their  manners.  They 
know  not  how  to  set  upon  each  thing  its 
due  price  and  value  :  learn  you  to  do  it, 
and  accustom  thyself  betimes  to  entertain 
right  and  sound  opinions,  that  they  may 
grow  up  with  thee,  and  by  using  thyself 
to  think  well,  thou  mayest  soon  come  to 
do  well ;  and  by  frequency  of  well-doing 
it  will,  it  may,  at  last  become  so  habitual 
and  natural,  as  that  thou  canst  not  but  do 
well,  thou  canst  not  do  otherwise  ;  or  if 
at  any  time  you  do  ill,  it  may  appear  to  be 
by  constraint,  or  force,  rather  than  from 
inclination.      After  you  are  able  to  judge 

[^85] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

of  things,  and    have    kept    off  the    servile 
yoke  which  opinion  hath  laid   upon  most 
men,  by    imposing  false  names,  and  gov- 
erning the  world   by  that   cheat,  and  that 
you    can    plainly  see  a  rich    man  to  want 
those    things  which    he  has,  and  a  high 
content  in  poverty,  discern  a  great  man  in 
all  his  liberty,  chained  like  a  slave  to  his 
lusts  and  idleness,  and  another  free  in  his 
fetters  :  this  done,  to  fit  you  for  conversa- 
tion,   receive    these   following    directions. 
First,  because  the  eye  doth   make  the  first 
report    of   the  man,  and  as  she  tells  her 
tale,  so  for  the  most   part   the   presence  is 
liked  or  disliked,  sometimes  very  unjustly. 
To  avoid   prejudice,  be  sure  to   put  your- 
self into  good   fashion  ;   and,  without  flat- 
tery, I   may  tell  you,  but  do  not  hear  it 
without  thankfulness  to  God,  you  have  a 
body    every    way    fit    to    bear  a  graceful 
presence,   answerable    to   your    rank    and 

[i86] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

quality.  But  take  heed  of  affectation  and 
singularity,  lest  you  act  the  nobleman 
instead  of  being  one.  And  whether  you 
stand,  sit,  or  move,  let  it  be  with  such  a 
becoming,  pleasing  gravity,  as  that  your 
very  behaviour  may  commend  you,  and 
prevail  for  a  good  opinion  with  the  be- 
holder. Before  you  speak,  let  your  mind 
be  full  of  courtesy  ;  the  civility  of  the 
hat,  a  kind  look,  or  a  word  from  a  person 
of  honour,  has  bought  that  service  which 
money  could  not.  And  he  that  can  gain 
or  preserve  a  friend,  and  the  opinion  of 
civility,  for  the  moving  of  the  hat,  or  a 
gentle  look,  and  will  not,  is  sillily  severe  ; 
spare  not  to  spend  that  which  costs  noth- 
ing; be  liberal  of  them,  but  be  not  prodi- 
gal, lest  they  become  cheap.  I  remember 
Sir  Francis  Bacon  calls  behaviour  the  gar- 
ment of  the  mind ;  it  is  well  resembled, 
and    rightly    expresses     the    behaviour     I 

[  187  ] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

would  have  in  proportion  to  a  garment. 
It  must  be  fit,  plain,  and  rich,  useful  and 
fashionable.  I  should  not  have  advised 
you  to  such  a  regard  of  your  outside,  the 
most  trifling  part  of  man,  did  I  not  know 
how  much  the  greatest  part  of  the  world 
is  guided  by  it,  and  what  notable  advan- 
tages are  gained  thereby,  even  upon  some 
very  wise  men  ;  the  request  of  an  accept- 
able person  being  seldom,  or  at  least  un- 
willingly, denied.  Yet  take  heed  of  mind- 
ing your  behaviour  too  much,  lest  it  pilfer 
from  your  consideration,  and  hinder  action. 
It  is  at  best  but  a  letter  of  commendation, 
or,  like  a  master  of  ceremonies,  presents 
you  to  have  audience.  If  something  be 
not  well  said  or  done,  you  are  but  a  hand- 
some picture,  the  pageant  or  show  of  a 
man. 

Language. — The   next  thing  that  fits 
you  for  conversation,  and  is,  indeed,  chiefly 

[i88] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

to  be  laboured  for,  is  a  graceful  manner  of 
speaking  in  a  distinct,  well-tuned  voice 
without  stammering,  lisping,  stopping,  or 
repetition.  And  let  these  be  your  rules 
and  caution  in  discourse ;  be  sparing  of 
speech ;  some  do  it  to  be  suspected  for 
wise  men,  yet  do  you  speak  sometimes 
that  you  may  not  be  thought  a  fool.  But 
let  the  little  you  utter  be  very  much  to  the 
purpose,  and,  therefore,  frame  it  within, 
before  you  set  it  forth,  still  observing  the 
point  of  your  discourse,  and  go  to  that 
directly.  If  it  be  a  knot,  untie  it  skilfully  ; 
always  have  respect  to  a  grey-haired  ex- 
perience, and  famed  understanding,  if  such 
a  one  be  present. 

Let  your  language  be  clear,  proper, 
significant,  and  intelligible,  fitted  to  the 
subject,  which,  as  near  as  you  can,  should 
be  according  to  the  humour  of  the  persons 
you     converse     with.       And     this     being 

[189] 


PRACIICAL    WISDOM 

various,  it  is  requisite  that  your  abilities 
be  various  also.  As  in  all  things  else,  so 
in  this  of  speech,  be  a  strict  observer  of 
decorum.  Speak  not  scholastically  to  a 
lady,  nor  courtly  to  a  plain  man.  And 
take  heed  of  surfeiting  the  ears  of  your 
hearers,  seeing  that  the  best  discourse,  like 
sweetmeats,  quickly  cloys,  if  it  become 
constant  food  ;  and  like  perpetual  music, 
loses  its  charms.  Therefore,  still  leave 
your  company  in  an  appetite  to  hear  more, 
baiting  them  sometimes  with  short  offers, 
so  cunningly  as  that  they  may  invite  you, 
and  press  you  to  speak  on  :  did  I  fear  in 
you  a  poverty  of  speech,  or  should  you 
find  at  any  time  a  slender  stock,  I  should 
entreat  you  to  a  good  husbandry ;  above 
all  things  avoid  commonplaces,  they  are 
fulsome  and  ridiculous. 

If  your  genius  leads  you,  and  I  hope  it 
does,  to  affect  a  pleasantness  of  wit,  this 

[  190] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

will  charm  and  win  upon  all  companies. 
And  let  me  tell  you,  that  a  story,  and  a  fit 
well-chosen  tale,  well  told,  has  affected 
that  which  a  more  serious  and  wise  debate 
could  never  accomplish.  The  Spanish 
are  singular  in  this  kind,  which  renders 
them  the  best  company  in  the  world. 
And  you  have  often  heard  me  say,  that  it 
was  the  best  music  I  ever  heard  in  Spain. 
Their  gravitv  in  the  narration  sets  off  a 
story  exceedingly  well ;  imitate  it  if  it  be 
possible,  and  if  you  can,  get  the  apparel- 
ling the  same  tale  in  a  various  dress  ;  that 
if  you  should  chance  to  tell  the  same 
again,  either  it  will  not  be  known  in  its 
disguise,  or  it  may  again  please,  because  of 
its  variety  ;  neither  were  it  amiss  if  you 
sometimes  seem  to  forget  to  show  your 
dexterity  that  way.  By  no  means  affect 
scurrility,  and  whet  not  your  wit  on  a  dull 
adversary.      It  is  no  way  generous  to  raise 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

mirth  or  triumph  over  a  fool,  whom  to 
overcome  can  be  no  victory,  when  the 
contention  itself  was  dishonourable.  If 
you  meet  with  a  proud,  vain,  self-con- 
ceited man,  it  may  become  you  well  to 
put  such  a  one  out  of  countenance,  so  it 
be  done  handsomely,  and  like  a  person  of 
honour,  for  all  men  are  well  pleased  to  see 
a  vain  man  well  rallied. 

Be  not  dogmatical  and  peremptory  in 
your  opinion — it  will  be  long  before  that 
become  you  ;  but  having  spoken,  as  you 
think,  reason,  if  it  be  not  allowed  of, 
speak  it  again,  and  leave  it  calmly  to  cen- 
sure. Be  very  careful  of  falling  into  pas- 
sion :  for  why  should  you  be  angry,  that 
another  is  not  able  or  willing  to  understand 
you.  Let  me  tell  you,  it  is  the  sign  of  a 
very  feeble  spirit  not  to  be  able  to  endure 
contradiction  ;  and  therefore,  if  you  have 
a  mind  to  gain    reputation    upon   any  by 

[192] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

dispute,  try  if  he  can  be  moved  :  if  he 
may  be,  then  anger  him,  but  without  of- 
fence ;  you  cannot  wish  for  a  greater 
advantage  than  his  passion  will  give  you ; 
for  anger,  in  dispute,  is  like  an  unquiet 
horse  in  a  dusty  way, — it  raises  so  much 
dust  in  the  eyes  of  the  understanding,  that 
it  blinds  it,  and  puts  it  out.  It  will  lay 
the  enraged  disputant  so  open,  that  you 
may  hit  him  where  you  please,  and  he 
cannot  put  by  one  fallacy.  Besides,  many 
have  overcome  by  suffering  the  enemy  to 
beat  himself  out  of  breath.  But  if  you 
would  render  yourself  pleasing  to  any 
person  you  have  a  mind  to  oblige,  propose 
then  such  a  subject  as  you  know  he  is 
very  skilled  in,  most  men  being  desirous 
and  pleased  to  show  their  own  excellency  ; 
and  you  will  not  lose  by  it  neither;  for 
the  experienced  soldier  shall  tell  you  more 
of   the   art   of  war,   and  a  well-practised 

[  193] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

lawyer  of  a  judged  case  in  law,  in  half  an 
hour,  than  all  the  books  of  both  profes- 
sions teach  you  in  a  month,  if,  perhaps,  at 
all.  Again,  if  you  have  a  desire  to  make 
a  show  of  yourself,  to  discourse  of  that 
you  are  best  known  in,  take  heed  of  rush- 
ing or  breaking  in  upon  it ;  it  will  appear 
pedantical,  and  discover  an  affectation 
which  you  should  carefully  avoid :  the 
slight  of  this  must  be  by  degrees,  ap- 
proaches, and  goings  about  to  steal  upon 
the  argument,  and  draw  some  of  the  com- 
pany insensibly  to  begin  it.  To  shut  up 
this  particular,  take  notice,  that  some  men 
are  good  at  a  short  turn,  or  quick  reply, 
who  languish  and  are  tired  in  a  large  dis- 
course :  others  are  nothing  quick  at  hand, 
but  yet  their  strength  of  reason  brings 
them  up  at  last.  Could  you  join  these 
both  together,  and  make  them  one  ability, 
you  would  soon  appear  a  great   master  of 

[194] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

language.  I  could  wish  you  had  the  skill 
to  maintain  paradoxes ;  not  to  that  pur- 
pose, as  some  cross  humorous  wits  employ 
them,  merely  for  contradiction  and  osten- 
tation, but  for  the  sharpening  and  stretch- 
ing of  your  wit,  which,  if  discreetly  and 
modestly  handled,  they  will  afford  a  sharp 
tickling  delight,  set  you  off  handsomely, 
and  render  you,  to  quick  apprehensions, 
very  acceptable.  If  to  these  you  add 
modesty  of  countenance  and  speech,  in 
one  of  your  birth  and  parts  they  will  ren- 
der your  conversation  sweet  and  charm- 
ing. Therefore  fail  not,  upon  occasion, 
to  be  master  of  a  great  modesty ;  but 
withal  know  when  to  be  high  ;  and  when 
you  show  it,  let  it  be  with  gentle  temper,  in 
a  sweet  and  well-commanded  spirit.  So 
that  now,  you  being  thus  fitted  with  comely 
presence,  and  furnished  with  good  language, 
sufficiency,  and  dexterity  of  discourse  : 

[i9Sj 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

Employment. — I  will  now  oversee 
your  employment,  which  at  present  is 
your  study  j  and  I  shall  be  less  careful 
herein,  upon  a  presumption  of  your  tutor's 
care  and  sufficiency  in  the  kind  hath  pre- 
vented me ;  however,  I  shall  tell  you  what 
I  have  heard  a  very  learned  man  to  speak 
concerning  books  and  the  true  use  of  them. 

You  are  to  come  to  your  study  as  to 
the  table,  with  a  sharp  appetite,  whereby 
that  which  you  read  may  the  better  digest. 
He  that  has  no  stomach  to  his  book  will 
very  hardly  thrive  upon  it. 

And  because  the  rules  of  study  do  so 
exactly  agree  with  those  of  the  table,  when 
you  are  from  your  tutor,  take  care  that 
what  you  read  be  wholesome,  and  but  suf- 
ficient. Not  how  much,  but  how  good,  is 
the  best  diet.  Sometimes,  for  variety,  and 
to  refresh  and  please  the  palate  of  your 
understanding,  you    may   read    something 

[196] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

that  is  choice  and  delicate  ;  but  make  no 
meal  thereon.  You  may  be  allowed  also 
the  music  of  poetry,  so  it  be  clear,  chaste, 
and  not  effeminate. 

After  you  have  read  a  little,  make  a 
stand  upon  it,  and  take  not  more  in,  nor 
that  down,  till  it  be  well  chewed  and  ex- 
amined. Go  not  to  another  thing  until 
the  first  be  understood  in  some  measure. 
If  any  thing  stick  with  you,  note  down 
your  doubts  in  a  book  for  the  purpose,  and 
rest  not  till  you  be  satisfied,  then  write 
that  down  too. 

In  your  reading,  use  often  to  invert  and 
apply  that  which  you  observe  applicable 
to  some  purpose :  and  if  this  change  be  a 
robbery,  God  help  late  writers.  Sure  I 
am,  nothing  to  my  reason  appears  more 
effectual  to  raise  your  invention  and  enrich 
your  understanding. 

After  reading,  remember,  as   from  the 

[  ^97] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

table,  so  you  rise  from  your  book,  with  an 
appetite;  and  being  up,  disturb  not  the 
concoction,  which  is  infinitely  improved 
by  a  rumination  or  chewing  of  the  cud. 
To  this  end,  recollection  with  yourself 
will  do  well,  but  a  repetition  with  another 
far  better ;  for  thereby  you  will  get  a 
habit  of  readily  expressing  yourself,  which 
is  a  singular  advantage  to  learning;  and 
by  the  very  discoursing  of  what  you  learn, 
you  again  teach  yourself:  besides,  some- 
thing new,  and  of  your  own,  must  of  ne- 
cessity stream  in. 

For  your  choice  of  your  books,  be  ad- 
vised by  your  tutor ;  but,  by  my  consent, 
you  should  not  have  above  one  or  two  at 
the  most  in  every  science,  but  those  very 
choice  ones.  I  will  commend  one  book 
to  you, — we  begin  with  it  when  we  are 
boys,  yet  it  will  become  the  oldest  and 
gravest  man's  hand, — it  is  TuUy's  Offices  ; 

[198] 


PRACIICAL    WISDOM 

a  most  wise  and  useful  book,  where  you 
shall  have  excellent  philosophy  excellently 
dressed.  And  those  that  are  skilful  in 
the  language  say,  that  the  whole  Latin 
tongue  is  there  with  all  its  purity  and 
propriety. 

For  the  more  orderly  managing  of  your 
study,  I  would  have  you  divide  the  day 
into  several  employments.  Great  and 
wise  persons  have  given  you  the  example. 
If  you  will  have  me  dispose  your  time  for 
you,  I  shall  proportion  it  into  three  oc- 
taves :  eight  hours  of  which  for  sleep, 
comprehending  dressing  and  undressing; 
eight  hours  for  devotion,  food  and  recrea- 
tion, in  which  I  comprehend  visits  and 
your  attendance  upon  me ;  the  other 
octave,  give  it  constantly  to  your  studies, 
unless  business  or  like  accident  interrupt, 
which,  if  it  shall,  you  must  either  recom- 
pense by  the  succeeding   day's   diligence, 

[  199] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

or  borrow  from  your  recreation.  But  by 
no  means  entrench  upon  your  hours  of 
devotion,  which  I  would  have  you  propor- 
tion into  little  and  frequent  offices,  to 
sweeten  the  spirits  and  prevent  wearisome- 
ness.  Possibly  even  these  hours  also  of 
devotion  may  sometimes  receive  inter- 
ruption by  travel  or  employment  of  neces- 
sity ;  then  your  offices  must  be  the  less. 
You  may  likewise  be  deprived  of  the  con- 
veniency  of  place  :  if  so,  yet  steal  a  retire- 
ment— nothing  must  hinder  you  from 
withdrawing  yourself,  and  a  good  man 
makes  any  place  an  oratory.  But  be  sure 
no  merry-meeting,  pastime,  or  humouring 
of  others,  make  a  breach  upon  your  daily 
exercise  of  piety — nothing  but  evident 
necessity  can  dispense. 

Be  not  ashamed  to  ask  if  you  doubt ; 
but  be  ashamed  to  be  reproved  for  the 
same  fault  twice. 

[200] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

Be  constant  in  your  course  of  study; 
and  although  you  proceed  slowly,  yet  go 
on  in  your  path ;  assiduity  will  make 
amends  at  last.  He  that  can  but  creep, 
if  he  keeps  his  way,  will  sooner  come  to 
his  journey's  end,  than  he  that  rides  post 
out  of  it. 

Endeavour  at  the  highest  perfection,  not 
only  at  your  studies,  but  in  whatsoever 
you  attempt  :  strive  to  excel  in  every- 
thing, and  you  may  perform  many  things 
worthy  of  praise,  nothing  meanly.  He 
that  aims  further  than  he  can  shoot,  and 
draws  with  his  utmost  strength,  will  hardly 
shoot  short,  at  least  deserves  not  to  be 
blamed  for  short  shooting. 

Avoid  night  studies,  if  you  will  preserve 
your  wit  and  health. 

Whether  thou  dost  read  or  hear  any 
thing — indeed  whatsoever  you  do — intend 
what  thou  art  about,  and  let  not  thy  mind 

[201  ] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

wander,  but  compel  it  to  be  fixed  and 
present.  If  any  other  thought  comes 
across  thee  in  thy  study,  keep  it  off,  and 
refer  it  to  some  other  time  :  this  wander- 
ing of  your  spirit  you  know  I  have  often 
reproved,  therefore,  whatsoever  you  do,  do 
it,  and  nothing  else. 

Suffer  not  thy  memory  to  rest ;  she 
loves  exercise,  and  grows  with  it ;  every 
day  commend  something  notable  to  her 
custody  ;  the  more  she  receives,  the  better 
she  keeps  ;  and  when  you  have  trusted 
any  thing  to  her  care,  let  it  rest  with  her 
awhile,  then  call  for  it  again,  especially  if 
it  be  a  fault  corrected.  You  must  not  err 
twice  J  and  by  this  frequent  calling  her  to 
account,  she  will  be  always  ready  to  give 
you  satisfaction ;  and  the  sooner,  if  what 
she  was  entrusted  with  was  laid  up  orderly, 
and  put,  as  it  were,  in  the  several  boxes 
of  a  cabinet. 

[  202  ] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

If  thou  wouldst  seem  learned,  the  best 
way  is  to  endeavour  to  be  learned ;  for  if 
thou  dost  not  strive  to  be  that  which  thou 
desirest  to  be,  thou  desirest  to  no  purpose, 
which  gives  me  occasion  to  recommend 
this  following  advice  to  your  especial 
regard. 

It  is  an  extreme  vanity  to  hope  to  be  a 
scholar,  and  yet  to  be  unwilling  to  take 
pains :  for  what  excellent  thing  is  there 
that  is  easily  composed  ?  Its  very  diffi- 
culty doth  imply,  and,  as  it  were,  doth 
invite  us  to  something  worthy  and  rare. 
Consider  it  is  a  rose  that  thorns  do  com- 
pass ;  and  the  forbidden  object  sharpens 
the  desire  in  all  other  things.  Thus  a 
difficult  mistress  makes  a  lover  more  pas- 
sionate ;  and  that  same  man  hates  an 
offered  and  a  prostitute  love.  I  dare  say, 
if  learning  were  easy  and  cheap,  thou 
wouldst  as  much  slight  her;  and,  indeed, 

[203] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

who  would  have  any  thing  common  with 
a  carter  or  a  cobbler  ?  Something  there 
is,  doubtless,  in  it,  that  none  but  noble  and 
unwearied  spirits  can  attain  her ;  and  these 
are  raised  higher,  and  heightened  by  its 
difficulty,  and  would  not  gain  her  other- 
wise. Something  there  is  in  it,  that  no 
money  or  jewels  can  buy  her.  No,  noth- 
ing can  purchase  learning  but  thy  own 
sweat :  obtain  her,  if  thou  canst,  any  other 
way.  Not  all  my  estate  can  buy  thee  the 
faculty  of  making  but  one  quick  epigram 
— the  trifling  part  of  her;  wherefore  I 
entreat  thee,  to  raise  thy  spirit,  and  stretch 
thy  resolution.  And  so  often  as  thou 
goest  to  thy  book,  place  before  thy  eyes 
what  crowns,  sceptres,  mitres,  and  other 
ensigns  of  honour,  learning  hath  conferred 
upon  those  that  have  courted  her  with 
labour  and  diligence ;  besides  the  rare 
pleasure  of  satisfaction,  which,  of  itself,  is 

[  204] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

an  honourable  reward.  And  let  me  tell 
thee,  a  learned  holy  man  (and  such  a  one 
would  I  fain  have  thee  to  be)  looks  like 
an  angel  in  flesh — a  mortal  cherubim. 
And  because  letters  are  great  discoverers 
of  the  man,  therefore,  when  you  write,  let 
your  style  be  genteel,  clean,  round,  even, 
and  plain,  unless  the  subject  or  matter  re- 
quire a  more  manly  and  vigorous  expres- 
sion. I  cannot  allow  you  a  curiosity, 
unless  it  be  like  a  lady's  dress,  negligently 
neat.  Go  not  to  counsel  for  every  word, 
yet  neglect  not  to  choose.  Be  more  care- 
ful to  think  before  you  write  than  before 
you  speak  ;  because  letters  pass  not  away 
as  words  do ;  they  remain  upon  record, 
are  still  under  the  examination  of  the  eye, 
and  tortured  they  are,  sometimes,  to  con- 
fess that  of  which  they  were  never  guilty. 
That  is  rare,  indeed,  that  can  endure  read- 
ing.     Understand  the  person  well  to  whom 

[205] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

you  write.  If  he  be  your  inferior  or 
equal,  you  may  give  your  pen  the  more 
liberty,  and  play  with  it  sometimes  j  but  if 
to  your  superior,  then  regard  is  to  be  had 
to  your  interest  with  him,  his  leisure,  and 
capacity  j  all  which  will  be  so  many 
caveats,  and  instructions  to  the  humility, 
neatness,  and  brevity  of  your  style.  You 
shall  do  well  if,  like  a  skilful  painter,  you 
draw  your  sense,  and  the  proportions  of 
your  business,  in  a  plain  draft  first,  and 
then  give  it  colour,  heightening,  and  beauty 
afterwards ;  and,  if  it  be  duly  considered, 
it  is  no  such  great  commendation  to  be 
praised  for  penning  a  letter  without  making 
a  blot,  not  in  my  judgment :  therefore, 
after  you  have  pondered  and  penned,  then 
examine  and  correct.  A  negligent  manner 
of  writing,  methinks,  is  a  kind  of  an 
affront  and  a  challenge,  not  a  letter,  to  a 
person  of   distinction.      Avoid  all   rough- 

[  206] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

ness,  swelling,  poverty,  and  looseness  in 
your  style ;  let  it  be  rather  riotous  than 
niggardly.  The  flowing  pen  may  be 
helped,  but  the  dry  never.  Especially 
shun  obscurity,  because  it  must  go  a-beg- 
ging for  an  interpreter  :  and  why  should 
you  write  to  entreat  him  to  understand 
you  if  he  can.  Be  this  your  general  rule, 
both  in  your  writing  and  speaking, — 
labour  for  sense,  rather  than  words  ;  and 
for  your  book,  take  this  also,  study  men 
and  things. 

Perhaps  you  will  expect,  after  all  these 
instructions,  I  should  commend  unto  you 
some  copy  or  example  to  imitate.  As  for 
the  Greek  and  Latin  tongues,  I  leave  it  to 
your  tutor's  choice.  In  the  English,  I 
know  no  style  I  should  sooner  prefer  to 
your  imitation,  than  that  of  Sir  Francis 
Bacon,  that  excellent  unhappy  man.  And 
to  give  you  direction   for  all  imitation  in 

[  207  ] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

general,  as  well  as  of  his  style  in  particu- 
lar, be  careful  so  to  imitate,  as,  by  draw- 
ing forth  the  very  spirits  of  the  writer,  you 
may,  if  possible,  become  himself.  Imitate 
him,  but  do  not  mock  him  ;  for  the  face 
of  a  bull,  or  a  horse,  is  more  comely,  than 
that  of  an  ape  or  a  monkey,  though  the 
ape  most  resembles  man,  the  most  beauti- 
ful of  all  creatures  :  and,  in  that  regard, 
your  own  genuine  and  natural  style  may 
show  more  comely  than  an  imitation  of 
Sir  Francis  Bacon,  if  it  be  not  exactly 
done.  I  would  have  the  imitator  be  as 
the  son  of  the  father,  not  the  ape  of  a 
man  ;  that  is,  to  put  on  the  likeness  of  a 
child,  not  of  an  ape  :  for  the  ape  only 
imitates  the  deformities  and  the  ridiculous 
actions  of  man,  the  son  represents  all  the 
graces  of  the  face,  gesture,  and  every 
figure  of  his  father ;  and,  in  this  repre- 
sentation, he   hath    something   of  himself 

[  208  ] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

too.  I  shall  add  but  one  caution  more, 
and  that  is  this — as  he  can  never  run  well 
who  shall  resolve  to  set  his  foot  in  the 
footsteps  of  one  that  went  before,  so 
neither  shall  any  man  write  well,  who  pre- 
cisely and  superstitiously  ties  himself  to 
another's  words.  And  with  this  liberty  I 
wish  you  still  happy. 

And  such  will  all  your  studies  be,  if  you 
constantly  put  in  practice  this  my  last 
admonition,  which  I  reserved  purposely 
for  this  place.  It  is,  that  you  be  careful 
every  night,  before  you  go  to  bed,  to  per- 
form your  devotions,  to  withdraw  yourself 
into  your  closet,  or  some  private  part  of 
your  chamber,  and  there  call  memory, 
your  steward,  to  account  what  she  has 
heard  or  read  that  day  worthy  of  observa- 
tion ;  what  she  hath  laid  up,  what  she 
spent ;  how  the  stock  of  knowledge  im- 
proves, where   and    how    she   decays.     A 

[209] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

notable  advantage  will  this  bring  to  your 
studies  at  present,  and  hereafter,  if  that 
way  employed,  to  your  estate.  But  if 
this  course  be  strictly  observed  each  night 
between  God  and  your  soul,  there  will  the 
true  advantage  appear.  Fail  not,  therefore, 
what  employment  soever  you  have,  every 
night,  as  in  the  presence  of  God  and  his 
holy  angels,  to  pass  an  inquisition  on  your 
soul  what  ill  it  hath  done,  what  good  it 
hath  left  undone ;  what  slips,  what  falls  it 
hath  had  that  day ;  what  temptation  hath 
prevailed  upon  it ;  and  by  what  means,  or 
after  what  manner.  Ransack  every  cor- 
ner of  thy  dark  heart,  and  let  not  the  least 
peccadillo,  or  kindness  to  a  sin,  lurk  there, 
but  bring  it  forth,  bewail  it,  protest  against 
it,  detest  it,  and  scourge  it  by  a  severe 
sorrow.  Thus  each  day's  breach  between 
God  and  your  soul  being  made  up,  with 
more  quiet  and   sweet  hope  thou  mayest 

[210] 


PRACIICAL    WISDOM 

dispose  thyself  to  rest.  Certainly,  at  last, 
this  inquisition,  if  steadily  pursued,  will 
vanquish  all  customary  sins,  whatever  they 
be.  I  speak  it  upon  this  reason,  because 
I  presume  thou  wilt  not  have  the  face  to 
appear  before  God  every  night  confessing 
the  same  offence ;  and  thou  wilt  forbear 
it,  lest  thou  mayest  seem  to  mock  God,  or 
despise  him,  which  is  dreadful  but  to 
imagine.  This  finished,  for  a  delightful 
close  to  the  whole  business  of  the  day, 
cause  your  servant  to  read  something  that 
is  excellently  written  or  done,  to  lay  you 
to  sleep  with  it,  that,  if  it  may  be,  even 
your  dreams  may  be  profitable  or  learned. 
This  you  will  find,  by  your  own  experi- 
ence, true,  that  things  will  appear  more 
naked  to  the  eye  of  the  soul,  when  the  eye 
of  the  body  is  shut ;  which,  together  with 
the  quiet  of  the  night,  that  time  is  rendered 
a  most    fit  season    for   contemplation  and 

[211] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

contrivance.  As  a  great  advantage,  not 
only  to  your  book,  but  health  and  business 
also,  I  cannot  but  advise  and  enjoin  you 
to  accustom  yourself  to  rise  early ;  for, 
take  it  from  me,  no  lover  of  his  bed  did 
ever  yet  form  great  and  noble  things. 
Now,  though  I  allowed  eight  hours  for 
your  bed,  with  the  preparation  to  it  and 
from  it,  yet  this  was  rather  to  point  out 
the  utmost  limits  beyond  which  you  should 
not  go,  rather  than  to  oblige  you  to  ob- 
serve such  a  proportion  exactly.  Borrow, 
therefore,  of  these  golden  morning  flowers, 
and  bestow  them  on  your  book.  A  noble 
person,  of  all  others,  has  need  of  learning, 
and  therefore  should  contribute  most  time 
to  it ;  for,  besides  that  it  gilds  his  honour, 
and  sets  ofF  his  birth,  it  becomes  his  em. 
ployment,  which  a  nobleman,  of  all  others, 
must  not  want,  if  he  will  secure  his  soul, 
honour,  and  estate,  all  which  are  in  most 

[   212  ] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

certain  danger  from  Idleness,  the  rock  of 
nobility,  considering  the  plenty  of  his 
table,  and  society,  with  all  sorts  of  tempta- 
tion ;  if,  therefore,  he  be  a  hard  student, 
he  is  not  at  leisure  to  be  vicious  ;  the  devil 
know^s  it  is  to  no  purpose  to  tempt  a  busy 
man ;  be  always,  therefore,  employed ; 
and  because  some  are  triflingly  active,  that 
you  may  not  with  them  be  idly  busy,  your 
book  will  instruct  you  how.  Did  you  but 
hear  the  complaints  of  excellent  person- 
ages, for  missing  of  that  opportunity  which 
you  are  now  master  of;  or  could  you  bctt 
suppose  yourself  old  and  ignorant,  how 
tender  would  you  be  of  the  loss  of  one 
minute,  what  would  you  not  give  to  return 
to  these  years  you  now  enjoy  ?  Let  this 
consideration  sink  deep  and  settle  in  you. 
Be  more  curious  of  the  expense  of  your 
time  than  of  your  gold  :  time  being  a  jewel 
whose  worth  is  invaluable,  whose  loss  is 

[213] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

irreparable  ;  therefore  secure  the  present 
time,  that  you  may  not  hereafter  lose  more 
by  a  vain  bewailing  of  the  past.  Now, 
because  the  best  of  learning  is  to  study 
yourself,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  I 
have  some  skill  in  you,  having  so  curiously 
observed  your  nature  and  inclination,  I 
shall  make  some  useful  discourse  in  order 
to  this  knowledge,  by  which  you  may 
both  see  your  defects  and  amend  them. 

Yourself. — The  most  profitable  and 
necessary  knowledge  in  the  world  is  to 
know  and  study  thyself;  wherefore,  with 
all  the  plainness,  sincerity,  and  observation 
you  can  make  in  your  best  temper  of  mind 
and  body,  lay  yourself  open  to  yourself; 
take  an  impartial  survey  of  all  your  abili- 
ties and  weaknesses,  and  spare  not  to  ex- 
pose them  to  your  eye  by  writing,  which  I 
conceive  is  the  best  done  by  framing  your 
own  character,  and  so  to  draw  the  picture 

[  214] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

of  your  mind,  which  I  recommend  to  your 
yearly  practice  during  your  life.  This,  if 
you  flatter  not  yourself,  will  be  your  best 
looking-glass,  and  must  needs  have  a  sin- 
gular influence  upon  your  religion,  and 
serve  your  soul  extremely  well  to  very  high 
purposes;  for,  by  this  means,  your  growth 
or  decay  in  virtue  will  be  discovered,  and, 
consequently,  ways  for  the  increase  of 
that  growth,  or  for  repairing  those  decays 
and  breaches  in  the  soul,  will  more  readily 
be  found  out,  and  more  easily  cured. 
When  you  have  found  both  your  forces 
and  infirmities,  then  look  with  one  eye 
upon  them,  and  with  the  other  on  the 
realms  you  live  in,  whereby,  comparing 
yourself  with  the  general  state  of  affairs, 
you  shall  soon  discern  whether  there  may 
be  a  correspondency  and  compliance  be- 
tween you  and  them,  that  you  may  there- 
upon   either    draw    yourself   within   your 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

private  walls,  to  enjoy  the  happiness  of  an 
holy,  quiet,  and  innocent  repose,  in  case 
the  times  are  rough  and  dangerous  to  sail 
in  ;  or  else,  if  calm  and  suitable,  to  engage 
yourself  in  some  public  employment,  for 
the  service  of  your  country  and  advance- 
ment of  your  family  :  though,  if  I  may 
guess  at  the  future  constitution  of  your 
mind  by  what  I  observe  at  present,  were 
the  times  never  so  calm  and  inviting,  you 
should  not  be  easily  enticed  to  embark 
yourself  into  the  world  or  engage  in  busy 
and  great  employments.  Your  best  course, 
in  my  judgment,  were  to  say  your  prayers 
at  home,  manage  your  little  affairs  inno- 
cently and  discreetly,  and  enjoy,  with 
thankfulness,  what  God  has  bestowed 
upon  me.  But  it  may  so  happen  that 
your  inclinations  may  be  active,  and  your 
parts  correspondent,  and  that  good  fortune 
may   find  you  out   in  your  privacy,  and 

[216] 


PRACTICAL    WISDOM 

court  you  to  employment, — if  she  does, 
refuse  her  not,  but  embrace  her  with  these 
cautions  :  First,  be  sure  to  ballast  yourself 
well,  by  calling  in  to  your  aid  all  the  ad- 
vantages of  learning,  art  and  experience ; 
then  consider  to  fit  your  sails  to  the  bulk 
of  your  vessel,  lest  you  prove  a  slug,  or 
overset.  And  because  commonwealths 
have  their  shelves  and  rocks,  therefore  get 
the  skill  of  coasting  and  shifting  your 
sails  :  I  mean,  to  arrive  at  your  journey's 
end  by  compassing  and  an  honest  com- 
pliance. Yet,  if  honesty  be  the  star  you 
sail  by,  doubt  not  of  a  good  voyage,  at 
least  be  sure  of  a  good  harbour. 


[217] 


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